U.S. patent application number 11/925205 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for shock suppressor.
Invention is credited to Chong-Shien TSAI.
Application Number | 20080098671 11/925205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39328471 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080098671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSAI; Chong-Shien |
May 1, 2008 |
SHOCK SUPPRESSOR
Abstract
A shock suppressor has a first base, a second base, a sliding
holder assembly and a connecting device. The second base is
parallel to the first base. The connecting device is slidably
mounted between the first base and second base to connect the first
and second bases. The first base abuts against the connecting
device in a curved contact surface to provide a first sliding
mechanism in multiple directions. The second base abuts against the
connecting device to provide a second sliding mechanism in a
unidirection. The sliding holder assembly is mounted between the
connecting device and at least one of the bases in a universal
contacting manner.
Inventors: |
TSAI; Chong-Shien;
(Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LaRiviere, Grubman & Payne, LLP
P.O. Box 3140
Monterey
CA
93942
US
|
Family ID: |
39328471 |
Appl. No.: |
11/925205 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/167.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 9/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/167.6 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/98 20060101
E04B001/98; E04H 9/02 20060101 E04H009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2006 |
TW |
095140216 |
Claims
1. A shock suppressor comprising: a first base; a second base being
parallel to the first base; a connecting device slidably mounted
between the first base and second base to connect the first and
second bases; and a sliding holder assembly mounted between the
connecting device and at least one of the bases in a universal
contacting manner, wherein, the first base is connected with the
connecting device in a curved contact surface to provide a first
sliding mechanism in multiple directions; and the second base is
connected with the connecting device to provide a second sliding
mechanism in a unidirection.
2. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
base has a concave surface defined in a side facing the second
base; the sliding holder assembly comprises a first holder slidably
mounted in the concave surface in the first base and having a
convex bottom abutting and matching with the concave surface in the
first base; and a recess with a concave bottom being defined in the
first holder at a side facing the second base to form an annular
wall around the first holder; and the connecting device has a
convex end formed on one end of the connecting device and
corresponding to and matching with the concave bottom of the recess
in the first holder.
3. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second
base has an elongated sliding channel defined in a side facing the
first base, and the sliding channel has a concave surface facing
the first base; the sliding holder assembly comprises a second
holder held slidably in sliding channel in the second base and
having a convex bottom abutting and matching with the concave
surface in the sliding channel; and a recess with a concave bottom
being defined in the second holder at a side facing the first
holder to form two limiting flanges respectively at two ends of the
second holder; and the connecting device has a convex end formed on
one end of the connecting device and corresponding to and matching
with the concave bottom of the recess in the second holder.
4. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
connecting device comprises a first slider abutting the concave
bottom in the first holder and having a facing end facing to the
second slider; a second slider abutting the concave bottom in the
second holder and having a facing end facing to the first slider;
and a universal connector is formed between the first slider and
the second slider.
5. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a
damping device mounted on at least one of the first base and the
second base.
6. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
universal connector comprises two recesses defined respectively in
the facing ends of the first slider and the second slider; and a
supporting member rotatably mounted in the recesses in the first
and second sliders.
7. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recesses
in the first and second sliders are hemispherical; and the
supporting member is spherical.
8. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
universal connector comprises a recess defined in the facing end of
the first slider; and a convex protrusion formed on the facing end
of the second slider and rotatably held in the recess in the first
slider.
9. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the recess
in the first slider and the convex protrusion on the second slider
are hemispherical.
10. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
universal connector comprises a recess defined in the facing end of
the second slider; and a convex surface formed on the facing end of
the first slider and rotatably held in the recess in the second
slider.
11. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first
slider is a hemispherical block; the recess in the second slider is
a hemispherical recess; and the convex surface on the first slider
is a hemispherical surface.
12. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first
slider is a flat round block; the recess in the second slider is a
flat concave recess; and the convex surface on the first slider is
a flat convex surface.
13. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second
base has a side facing the first base, two parallel side plates
parallelly mounted on the side of the second base and a guiding
block attached between the side plates to form the sliding channel
between the side plates and the guiding block; the guiding block
has a concave surface facing the first base; and one of the convex
end of the connecting device corresponding to and matching with the
concave surface on the guiding block.
14. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
sliding channel has two sides; and the connecting device has two
guiding sides slidably and respectively abutting against the sides
of the sliding channel.
15. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding
channel has two sides; and the connecting device has two guiding
sides slidably and respectively abutting against the sides of the
sliding channel.
16. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 15 further comprising
a damping device mounted on at least one of the first base and the
second base.
17. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
base has a side facing the first base and a rail attached to the
side facing the first base, and the rail has a curved rib with a
concave surface facing the first base; and the connecting device
has an engaging channel corresponding to and matching with the
curved rib on the rail.
18. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
sliding holder assembly comprises a first holder slidably mounted
in the concave surface in the first base and having a convex bottom
abutting and matching with the concave surface in the first base;
and a recess with a concave bottom being defined in the first
holder at a side facing the second base to form an annular wall
around the first holder; and the connecting device has a convex end
formed on one end of the connecting device and corresponding to and
matching with the concave bottom of the recess in the first
holder.
19. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 18 further comprising
a damping device mounted on at least one of the first base and the
second base.
20. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 18, wherein the curved
rib on the rail and the engaging channel of the connecting device
have a V-shaped cross section.
21. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 18, wherein the curved
rib on the rail and the engaging channel of the connecting device
have an inverse T-shaped cross section.
22. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
base has a side facing the first base and a rail attached to the
side facing the first base, and the rail comprises a flat and
unidirectional rib matching and engaging with the engaging channel
defined in the connecting device; a bar extending through the
connecting device; and two resilient members mounted around the bar
and abutting against the connecting device.
23. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 22, wherein the
sliding holder assembly comprises a first holder slidably mounted
in the concave surface in the first base and having a convex bottom
abutting and matching with the concave surface in the first base;
and a recess with a concave bottom being defined in the first
holder at a side facing the second base to form an annular wall
around the first holder; and the connecting device has a convex end
formed on one end of the connecting device and corresponding to and
matching with the concave bottom of the recess in the first
holder.
24. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 23 further comprising
a damping device mounted on at least one of the first base and the
second base.
25. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
damping device mounted on at least one of the first base and the
second base.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent
Application Serial Number 095140216 filed Oct. 31, 2006, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a shock suppressor for a
building, a bridge or a motion sensitive equipment, and more
particularly to a shock suppressor that can dissipate seismic shock
energy in both horizontal and vertical directions efficiently.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Effect of ground motions is very important factors to be
considered in the design of a building, a bridge or a skyscraper,
from micro-vibrations to catastrophic earthquakes. Therefore, shock
reduction is very important aspect in the construction of a
building, a bridge or a skyscraper.
[0004] A conventional shock suppressor is provided to dissipate
shock energy and substantially comprises a base, a supporting plate
and a slider. The base and the supporting plate have respectively a
recess corresponding to each other, and the slider are held
slidably in the recesses in the base and the supporting plate. The
slider comprises a first sliding block, a second sliding block and
a ball. Each sliding block has a convex end corresponding to a
corresponding recess and a concavity for holding the ball inside.
With the sliding movement of the slider relative to the recesses in
the base and the supporting plate, shock energy generated by
earthquake can be isolated and dissipated.
[0005] However, the conventional shock suppressor can dissipate
shock energy in multiple directions, but has a complicate
structure. In addition, to define semispherical recesses in both
the base and the supporting plate is difficult and time-consuming,
and the cost for manufacturing the conventional shock suppressor is
high. Furthermore, the conventional shock suppressor cannot be
economically applied to bridges or an elongated building because
that the dissipating frequencies and displacement capacities in
different shock-dissipating directions of the conventional shock
suppressor are the same.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to
provide a shock suppressor to mitigate or obviate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the invention is to provide a shock
suppressor that can dissipate seismic shock energy in both
horizontal and vertical directions efficiently. The shock
suppressor has a first base, a second base, a sliding holder
assembly and a connecting device. The second base is parallel to
the first base. The connecting device is slidably mounted between
the first base and second base to connect the first and second
bases. The first base abuts against the connecting device in a
curved contact surface to provide a first sliding mechanism in
multiple directions. The second base abuts against the connecting
device to provide a second sliding mechanism in a unidirection. The
sliding holder assembly is mounted between the connecting device
and at least one of the bases in a universal contacting manner.
[0008] 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
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a first embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance
with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a second embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance
with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a third embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance
with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
fourth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
fifth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
sixth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
seventh embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view in partial cross section of an
eighth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
ninth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a
tenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a perspective view in partial cross section of an
eleventh embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a twelfth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance
with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a thirteenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross
section of a fourteenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in
accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 15 is a side view in partial cross section of a
fifteenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 16 is a side view in partial cross section of a
sixteenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 17 is a side view in partial cross section of a
seventeenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, a shock suppressor in accordance
with the present invention can be applied to a building, a bridge
or an instrument and comprises a first base (10), a second base
(20), a sliding holder assembly (40) and a connecting device
(30).
[0027] The second base (20) is parallel to the first base (10). The
connecting device (30) is slidably mounted between the first base
(10) and second base (20) to connect the first and second bases
(10,20). The first base (10) is connected with the connecting
device (30) in curved contact surfaces to provide a first sliding
mechanism in multiple directions. The second base (20) is connected
with the connecting device (30) to provide a second sliding
mechanism in a unidirection. The sliding holder assembly (40) is
mounted between the connecting device (30) and at least one of the
bases (10,20) in a universal contacting manner.
[0028] A damping device (50) is mounted on at least one of the
first base (10) and the second base (20). The damping device (50)
can be made of resilient rubber material, viscoelastic material,
frictional material or material with an excellent damping
coefficient.
[0029] In practice, the locations of the first and second bases
(10,20) can be exchanged based on different needs. The first base
(10) can be mounted on the ground, the floor or a building and is
located below the second base (20). In an alternative embodiment,
the second base (20) can be mounted on the ground, the floor or a
building and is located below the first base (10).
[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of a shock
suppressor in accordance with the present invention, the first base
(10) has a concave surface (11) defined in a side facing the second
base (20). The second base (20) has an elongated sliding channel
(21) defined in a side facing the first base (10), and the sliding
channel (21) has a concave surface (22) facing the first base (10).
The damping device (50) comprises two damping pads attached
respectively to the first and second bases (10,20).
[0031] The sliding holder assembly (40) comprises a first holder
(401) and a second holder (402). The first holder (401) is slidably
in the concave surface (11) in the first base (10) has a convex
bottom (41) abutting and matching with the concave surface (11) in
the first base (10). A recess (42) with a concave bottom is defined
in the first holder (401) at a side facing the second base (20) and
the second holder (402) to form an annular wall (43) around the
first holder (401). The recess (42) in the first holder (401) has a
diameter larger than that of the connecting device (30).
[0032] The second holder (402) is held slidably in sliding channel
(21) in the second base (20) and has a convex bottom (44) abutting
and matching with the concave surface (22) in the sliding channel
(21). A recess (45) with a concave bottom is defined in the second
holder (402) at a side facing the first holder (401) to form two
limiting flanges (46) respectively at two ends of the second holder
(402).
[0033] The connecting device (30) may be cylindrical rod having two
convex ends (301,302) abutting and matching respectively with the
concave bottoms of the recesses (42,45) in the holders (401,402).
The connecting device (30) further has two guiding sides
respectively abutting against the inner sides of the sliding
channel (21).
[0034] With the concave surface (11) in the first base (10), the
convex bottom (41) of the first holder (401), the concave bottom of
the recess (42) and the convex end (301) on the connecting device
(30), the first sliding mechanism between the first base (10) and
the connecting device (30) in a curved contact surface is
achieved.
[0035] With the concave surface (22) of the sliding channel (21),
the convex bottom (44) of the second holder (402), the concave
bottom of the recess (45) and the convex end (302) on the
connecting device (30), the second sliding mechanism between the
second base (20) and the connecting device (30) in a unidirectional
sliding direction is achieved.
[0036] In such an arrangement, the connecting device (30) can
provide an excellent supporting effect to the supported structures
including buildings, bridges, etc. before a shock occurring. When a
shock occurs, the first base (10) will move relative to the second
base (20). With the arrangements of the sliding mechanisms between
the bases (10,12), the sliding holder assembly (40) and the
connecting device (30) and the damping device (50), the shock
energy can be efficiently dissipated, eliminated, suppressed or
absorbed in both horizontal and vertical directions.
[0037] When the shock has stopped, the first and second bases
(10,20) will automatically move to an original position with the
concave and convex surfaces in the bases (10,12), the holders
(401,402) and the connecting device (30), such that the shock
suppressor has an automatic positioning effect to an original
status. In additional, with the arrangement of the holders
(401,402) of the sliding holder assembly (40), the movement of the
bases (10,20) to the original position is quick and stable.
[0038] With reference to FIG. 2, in a second embodiment of the
shock suppressor, the connecting device (30A) comprises a first
slider (31), a second slider (32) and a universal connector. The
first slider (31) has a facing end facing to the second slider (32)
and a convex end (311) formed on the first slider (31) at an end
opposite to the facing end and abutting and matching with the
concave bottom of the recess (42) in the first holder (401).
[0039] The second slider (32) has a facing end facing to the first
slider (31) and a convex end (322) formed on the second slider (32)
at an end opposite to the facing end and abutting and matching with
the concave bottom of the recess (45) in the second holder (402).
In addition, the second slider (32) further has two guiding sides
(321) respectively abutting against the inner sides of the sliding
channel (21).
[0040] The universal connector is mounted between the first slider
(31) and the second slider (32) and comprises two recesses
(312,323) and a supporting member (33). The recesses (312,323) are
defined respectively in the facing ends of the first slider (31)
and the second slider (32). The supporting member (33) is rotatably
mounted in the recesses (312,323) in the first and second sliders
(31,32). In the second embodiment, the recesses (312,323) in the
first and second sliders (31,32) are hemispherical, and the
supporting member (33) is spherical.
[0041] With reference to FIG. 3, the third embodiment of the shock
suppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the second
embodiment except that the universal connector of the connecting
device (30B) comprises a recess (312) defined in the facing end of
the first slider (31) and a convex protrusion (324) formed on the
facing end of the second slider (32B) and rotatably held in the
recess (312) in the first slider (31). The recess (312) in the
first slider (31) and the convex protrusion (324) on the second
slider (32B) are hemispherical.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 4, the fourth embodiment of the shock
suppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the second
embodiment except that the universal connector of the connecting
device (30C) comprises a recess (323) defined in the facing end of
the second slider (32C) and a convex surface (313) formed on the
facing end of the first slider (31C) and rotatably held in the
recess (323) in the second slider (32C). The recess (323) in the
second slider (32C) is hemispherical, and the first slider (31C) is
a hemispherical block with a hemispherical convex surface (313)
rotatably held in the recess (323) in the second slider (32C).
[0043] With reference to FIG. 5, in a fifth embodiment of the shock
suppressor, the first slider (31D) of the connecting device (30D)
is a flat round block, the recess (323D) in the second slider (32D)
is a flat concave recess, and the convex surface (313D) on the
first slider (31D) is a flat convex surface.
[0044] With reference to FIG. 6, in a sixth embodiment of the shock
suppressor, the second base (20A) has two parallel side plates (23)
formed on and extending from the side facing the first base (10)
and a guiding block (24) mounted between the side plates (23) to
define the sliding channel (21A) between the side plates (23) and
the guiding block (24). The guiding block (24) has a concave
surface (22A) facing the first base (10) and corresponding to and
matching with the convex bottom (44) on the second holder
(402).
[0045] With reference to FIG. 7, in a seventh embodiment of the
shock suppressor, the connecting device (30A) has a first slider
(31A), a second slider (32A) and a universal connector with same
structures as that in the second embodiment.
[0046] With reference to FIG. 8, in an eighth embodiment of the
shock suppressor, the universal connector of the connecting device
(30B) comprises a hemispherical recess (312) defined in the facing
end of the first slider (31) and a hemispherical convex protrusion
(324) formed on the facing end of the second slider (32B) and
rotatably held in the recess (312) in the first slider (31).
[0047] With reference to FIG. 9, in a ninth embodiment of the shock
suppressor, the second base (20B) has a rail (25) attached to the
side facing the first base (10). The rail (25) has a curved rib
(251) with a concave surface facing the first base (10). The
connecting device (30E) has an engaging channel (303) corresponding
to and matching with the curved rib (251) on the rail (25). The
curved rib (251) of the rail (25) on the second base (20B) and the
engaging channel (303) in the connecting device (30E) may have a
V-shaped cross section, a semispherical cross section or an inverse
T-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 12. Accordingly, the second
sliding mechanism in a unidirectional sliding direction is
constructed of the rib (251) and the engaging channel (303) and the
sliding holder assembly (40A) is without the second holder.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 10, in a tenth embodiment of the
shock suppressor, the second slider (32F) of the connecting device
(30F) has an engaging channel (325F) corresponding to and matching
with the curved rib (251) on the rail (25).
[0049] With reference to FIG. 11, the eleventh embodiment of the
shock suppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the
tenth embodiment except that the universal connector of the
connecting device (30G) comprises a hemispherical recess (312)
defined in the facing end of the first slider (31) and a
hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed on the facing end of
the second slider (32G) and rotatably held in the recess (312) in
the first slider (31).
[0050] With reference to FIG. 12, in a twelfth embodiment of the
shock suppressor, the rib (261) of the rail (26) on the second base
(20C) and the engaging channel (325) in the connecting device (30H)
have an inverse T-shaped cross section.
[0051] With reference to FIG. 13, in the thirteenth embodiment of
the shock suppressor, the rib (261) of the rail (26) on the second
base (20C) and the engaging channel (326) in the second slider
(321) of the connecting device (30I) have an inverse T-shaped cross
section.
[0052] With reference to FIG. 14, the fourteenth embodiment of the
shock suppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the
thirteenth embodiment except that the universal connector of the
connecting device (30J) comprises a hemispherical recess (312)
defined in the facing end of the first slider (31) and a
hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed on the facing end of
the second slider (323) and rotatably held in the recess (312) in
the first slider (31).
[0053] With reference to FIG. 15, in the fifteenth embodiment of
the shock suppressor, the rail (27) on the second base (20D)
further has a flat and unidirectional rib (271) matching and
engaging with an engaging channel (304) defined in the connecting
device (30K), and the sliding holder assembly (40A) is without the
second holder. The rail (27) further has a bar extending through
the connecting device (30K) and two resilient members (272) mounted
around the bar and abutting against the connecting device (30K).
The resilient members (272) may be springs, plastic sleeves or
cylinders. With the arrangement of the resilient members (272), the
resilient members (272) can provide a recoil force to the
connecting device (30K) to make the connecting device (30K) to move
automatically to the original status.
[0054] With reference to FIG. 16, in the sixteenth embodiment of
the shock suppressor, the second holder (32L) of the connecting
device (30L) has an engaging channel (304) engaging with the flat
and unidirectional rib (271) of the rail (27) on the second base
(20D). The bar of the rail (27) extends through the second slider
(32L), and the resilient members (272) abuts against the second
slider (32L).
[0055] With reference to FIG. 17, the seventeenth embodiment of the
shock suppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the
sixteenth embodiment except that the universal connector of the
connecting device (30M) comprises a hemispherical recess (312)
defined in the facing end of the first slider (31) and a
hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed on the facing end of
the second slider (32M) and rotatably held in the recess (312) in
the first slider (31).
[0056] With such an arrangement, shock energy in multiple
directions can be efficiently dissipated by the shock suppressor in
accordance with the present invention. Additionally, with the first
sliding mechanism in a universal direction and the second sliding
mechanism in a unidirectional sliding direction, the displacement
capacities and shock-dissipating frequencies in different direction
are different. Therefore, the shock suppressor can be applied to
bridges or elongated building and is versatile in use.
[0057] Furthermore, the shock suppressor has a simplified
structure, such that to manufacture and assemble the shock
suppressor is easy and convenient and the cost for manufacturing
the shock suppressor can be reduced.
[0058] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *