WO2011101411A1

WO2011101411A1 - Aseismic device

Info

Publication number: WO2011101411A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/052358
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Bolletta; Graziano Bolletta
Original assignee: Giuseppe Bolletta; Graziano Bolletta
Priority date: 2010-02-19
Filing date: 2011-02-17
Publication date: 2011-08-25
Also published as: IT1397872B1; ITMC20100022A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aseismic device (1) comprising at least one upright (3A) and one cover (3B) joined in upper position to said upright, in which the upright (3A) comprises height adjustment means (4) to move said cover (3B) from a first condition in which it is elevated to a second condition in which it is lowered.

Description

Aseismic device The present invention relates to an aseismic device as claimed in the preamble of the first claim.

Modern buildings are often built according to aseismic criteria in order to withstand the stress caused by earthquakes, including severe ones.

However, given the high intrinsic cost, this type of buildings is often realized only in places with high seismic risk level, and their installation is not common in places with low or medium risk level.

Moreover, even if buildings are designed in such a way, the main principle is to prevent the building from collapsing, while tolerating the occurrence of damage to the building structure, according to the theory that provides for having the structure work in elastic field.

Nevertheless, in the event of an earthquake, this results in oscillations and collapse of parts of the building, such as vertical walls and floors.

In view of the above, an earthquake, including a light one, may cause the complete or partial collapse of the walls and ceiling of the building, with evident risks for occupiers.

Furthermore, most buildings that were built before the technical evolution in this field and before the availability of materials at reasonable cost, are still built in a non-aseismic way and therefore subject to damage of possible earthquakes.

It is therefore necessary to provide, at a limited cost, a good protection for the building occupiers in case of earthquake, regardless of the way in which the building is built.

The problem is more serious at the night, when of course people are sleeping and not prepared to evacuate the building rapidly.

US 5 134 818 discloses a shock absorber for buildings arranged in a container buried in the ground, which supports the lower floor of the building. US 3 606 704 discloses an upright with shock-absorber, arranged between a base and a floor panel.

During a seismic event, the shock-absorbers of said known devices are compressed and the devices slightly vary in height. However, said devices are not suitable to be arranged above a bed and they are not devised to cover the bed to protect the person sleeping on the bed against the fall of rubble.

US 5 288 060 discloses a shock-absorbing suspension, comprising a pair of opposite plates and two counterrotating D-frames. When it supports a weight, also this suspension is compressed and lightly changes its height. However, said suspension is not suitable to be disposed above a bed and is not devised to cover the bed in order to protect the person sleeping on the bed against the fall of rubble.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve these and other drawbacks by devising an aseismic device, in particular of the type that can be associated with a bed, as illustrated in the first claim.

The idea of the present invention is to devise an aseismic device comprising :

- a cover adapted to cover a bed disposed on the floor of a house with roof,

- at least one upright disposed on said floor, which supports said cover, - height adjustment means provided in said upright to move said cover from a first condition in which it is elevated at short distance from the roof of the house to a second condition in which it is lowered at short distance from the bed,

- sensor means to detect an event that is indicative of an earthquake and accordingly control said height adjustment means, in such a way that said cover can go from the first elevated position to the second lowered position, thus generating a protection for bed occupier.

Other characteristics and further advantages will be more evident from an embodiment of the invention with reference to the enclosed drawings, which show a possible embodiment, wherein :

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first example of aseismic device according to the present invention in a first configuration; fig. 2 illustrates the device of fig. 1 in a second configuration ;

fig. 3 illustrates a first example of height adjustment means of the cover of mechanical type;

fig. 4 illustrates a second example of height adjustment means of the cover of mechanical type;

fig. 5 illustrates a first example of height adjustment means of the cover of hydraulic type;

fig. 6 illustrates a second example of height adjustment means of the cover of hydraulic type;

fig. 7 illustrates an example of height adjustment means of the cover of mixed hydraulic/mechanical type;

fig. 8 illustrates a device according to the present invention associated with a cradle;

figs. 9a-9e illustrate various examples of the cover of the device of fig. 1 . Referring to fig. 1 , a first example of aseismic device (1 ) according to the present invention is disclosed.

As shown in this example, the aseismic device (1 ) is situated above a bed (2) in order to provide the necessary protection in case of fall of rubble or also of entire parts of floor or walls.

The aseismic device (1 ) comprises four uprights (3A) that extend vertically from the floor and support a cover (3B) arranged on the vertical of the bed (2) as canopy.

The upper ends of the uprights (3A) are connected to the cover (3B), whereas the lower ends are fixed to the bed (2) in such a way to create a sturdy structure able to withstand stress.

When stressed in vertical compression from up downwards, the uprights (3A) are shortened and the cover (3B) is lowered accordingly, in order to protect the safety of the people in the bed, passing from the configuration of fig. 1 to the configuration of fig. 2.

Each upright (3A) is provided with height adjustment means (4) designed to move the cover (3B), varying the length of each upright (3A). Advantageously, each upright (3A) can be provided with dampening means to absorb the kinetic energy transmitted by the fall of the floor and/or rubble, which is mainly a compression force on the surface (3B) of the device (1 ). The height adjustment means (4) are actuated according to different modes. According to a first mode they are actuated by the same compression force that acts on the device (1 ), if a seismic event causes a compression force on the external surface of the cover (3B) (i.e. the one faced opposite to the bed). Other actuation modes provide for the presence of adjustment means (S1 ) to actuate said height adjustment means (4); said actuation means (S1 ) being, for instance, pressure sensors situated on the external surface of the cover (3B), which generate a signal when they record a pressure on the cover (3B) generated by a mass.

According to a different mode the actuation means comprise oscillation sensors (S2), situated for instance at the base of the uprights (3A), which control the height adjustment means (4) when they record an oscillatory or sussultatory motion of the ground.

Of course, in the presence of sensors, the device (1 ) has a higher cost, but it also has the advantage of actuating the height adjustment means (4) by lowering the cover (3B) before collapsing occurs.

Obviously, the different actuation means can also be combined together.

In case of actuation means such as pressure and/or oscillation sensors, the height adjustment means (4) can be provided with one or more servo controls, for example of electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or mechanical type, adapted to activate the height adjustment means (4) provided on each upright (3A).

Referring to Fig. 1 , the cover (3B) is situated in elevated position, at a height (H) from the ground of about 2-3 meters, at short distance from the roof of the house. Referring to Fig. 2, the cover (3B) is situated in lowered position, at a height (h) from the ground of about 1 -1 .5 meters, at short distance from the bed (2), sufficient not to crush the user. It must be noted that the uprights (3A) are shortened by approximately half of their length, i.e. H = 1 /2 h. Going back to the height adjustment means (4), they can be able to dissipate the accumulated energy, and/or absorb it and eventually yield it to the device (1 ) when application of the compression force ends.

In any case, the primary purpose of each height adjustment means (4) is to move the cover (3B) to protect the people on or under the bed (2), and in case it is associated or comprises dampening means, it can also have the secondary purpose of absorbing the energy imparted on the corresponding upright (3A), advantageously obtaining a better protection of the users.

As regards the uprights (3A), they can have any type of section, including a square, circular, rectangular or other section, and they can be in general in number equal to or higher than three.

The best aesthetical solution is the one in which the device (1 ) comprises four uprights (3A); in such a configuration, in fact, the volume of the uprights (3A) is very small, being situated at the corners of the bed, with full usability of the free sides of the bed.

Moreover, the above allows for using reinforcement systems between uprights (3A) and cover (3B).

For instance, the uprights can be mutually connected, preferably in correspondence of their support base, by means of cross-pieces, platform, plate or similar item, in order to prevent the bed from bending or subsiding if part of the floor collapses (for example, the part under the upright).

Advantageously, preventing the inclination of the device allows for avoiding that one of the uprights is overloaded and works in an incorrect way.

Now, with reference to the height adjustment means (4), figs. 3 to 7 show different solutions that can be actuated.

The height adjustment means (4) can be, for instance, of mechanical (41 ), pneumatic, hydraulic (42), mixed mechanical/hydraulic (43), mixed mechanical/pneumatic or similar type, and can be also provided with dampening means.

An example of height adjustment means of mechanical type (41 ) is shown in fig. 3 and comprises, for example, a tooth wheel (41 A) coupled with a rack (41 B); the tooth wheel (41 A) is associated with the cover (3B), and the rack (41 B) with the upright (3A).

The vertical downward movement of the cover (3B) can be controlled by the actuation means, for example, by means of one or more servo controls of mechanical, pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic type that act jointly on each tooth wheel.

More generally, this category comprises any coupling of mechanical type between cover (3B) and upright (3A) that allows the former to slide with respect to the latter.

Another example of height adjustment means of mechanical type (41 ) is shown in fig. 4: in such a case they comprise a cylinder (41 C) and a piston (41 D), each of them being coupled with an upright (3A) or cover (3B).

Each upright (3A) can be made of two parts, each of them comprising the cylinder (41 C) or piston (41 D) adapted to slide axially.

In order to absorb the energy transmitted by the rubble falling on the cover (3B) a dampening means is provided, being in this case a spring (41 E) that shortens when stressed to absorb the energy transmitted by the rubble falling on the cover (3B) ; obviously, the spring (41 E) can be dimensioned in such a way to act only when the cover (3B) is lowered, or more generally also when the cover (3B) is not lowered.

Referring now to the height adjustment means of hydraulic type (42), they are shown in fig. 5. In such a case, they comprise two concentric cylinders (42A and 42C) and one piston (42B) mounted in configuration of a twin-tube hydraulic shock-absorber of known type.

The internal cylinder (42C) is full of oil, whereas the external cylinder (42A) is only partially filled, and the oil volume in the two cylinders is regulated by various systems. Moreover, said cylinders (42C and 42A) can be of single effect or double effect type.

The operation of the height adjustment means of hydraulic type (42) can be regulated according to oil viscosity on passage light and compression speed, where in case of constant light, resistance to sliding exponentially increases upon increasing of compression speed and consequently oil sliding. In general, according to the operation principle, during the compression phase an oil volume equivalent to the volume of the stem is poured into the external cylinder through a compression valve, part of the oil contained in the internal cylinder raises above the piston through an inlet valve, during this action the trapped air is compressed and this allows for increasing the shock- absorber resistance, moving the oil movement through the inlet valve.

Other different embodiments of height adjustment means can be realized, wherein, for example, the central pump is not provided, and the central tube acts as pump and shock-absorber, together with a central empty tube fixed to the external tube.

This type of height adjustment means provides for high flexibility in the regulation/variation/control of the dampening features. It is therefore possible to adjust the sliding of the piston according to the weight and features of the cover (3B).

A variation of said height adjustment means of hydraulic type (42) is shown in fig. 6: in such a case, the operation principle is the single tube hydraulic shock-absorber: the cylinder (42E), in which the piston (42D) slides, comprises a pneumatic chamber (for instance, a high pressure one). This type of height adjustment means is not very different from the previous one in terms of operation. In fact, the piston that is immersed in oil has the two valves for the two sliding directions, where in case of compression oil is poured into the upper part of the piston, but, given the fact that no immediate transfer is possible, the pressurized chamber is compressed.

As regards the height adjustment means of pneumatic type, they comprise again a cylinder/piston coupling : in such a case, however, a chamber full of air is obtained in the final section of the piston travel, which acts as dampening means; in fact, when the air is compressed by the external force, it is discharged outside slowly, thus forming a shock absorbing elastic cushion.

The adjustment of the operation of the dampening means can be obtained by choosing the dimensions of the holes or more generally of the adjustable air vent devices situated in proximity of the piston end stop; in fact, the descending speed of each upright is adjusted according to the air pressure inside the space comprised between piston and cylinder.

Referring now to the height adjustment means of mechanical/hydraulic type (43), they are based on the combination of mechanical and hydraulic technologies. More generally, this category comprises hydraulic means provided with a spring adapted to act both as dampening means (as discussed above) and restore the initial position of the piston when the closing of the upright is completed; in the latter case, they are different from the previous type in that they can be provided with an upright adapted to automatically return to its initial position.

Moreover, this system also includes hydraulic decelerators, such as the one of known type shown in fig. 7. In such a case, the force applied on the stem of the piston (43A) sliding in the cylinder (43B) moves it according to the same direction as the force and the oil contained in the chamber with spring (43C) is forced to pass through a hole while the pressure maintains a nonreturn valve in closed position.

A heat-generating pressure drop occurs during the passage of the fluid through the hole. So, energy is dissipated by heating the oil, which transmits the heat to the body of the shock absorber and from there to the atmosphere. In such a configuration, repositioning in the initial configuration is possible because of the spring (43C). The ball of the non-return valve is moved from its seat and opens a hole with higher dimensions, thus allowing for the rapid return of the fluid, and consequently for a rapid return of the piston to the initial conditions.

Referring now to height adjustment means of mechanical/pneumatic type, they are conceptually identical to the ones illustrated above, and more generally comprise closures of pneumatic type, which are also provided with a spring adapted to restore the initial position of the piston when the closure of the upright (3A) is completed. Therefore, in purely functional terms, this category differs from the previous one in the possibility to return to its initial position. Other types of height adjustment means included in this category are pneumatic decelerators, which are based on the same operating principle as the one illustrated above for hydraulic decelerators. The only substantial difference is that in such a case, a generic compressed gas is used instead of a fluid such as oil. It must be noted that, in case of either hydraulic or pneumatic decelerators, the height adjustment means comprise dampening means integrated in the same device.

Finally, as regards the cover (3B), it can be realized in different ways and decorated in order to make it aesthetically pleasant.

Amongst the various sections of the cover (3B), some are shown in the enclosed figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, that is to say, respectively, sloped, convex, flat with sloped ends, sloped with double inclination, flat.

Obviously, as alternative to the bed (2), the device (1 ) can be associated with a cradle (20), as shown in fig. 8, or more generally with other types of bed, such as a sofa, sofa-bed or similar.

In fig. 8 the cradle (20) is supported by only one upright (3A) in central position, whereas the cover (3B) is supported by the upright (3A) with interposition of the cradle (20).

Obviously, in such a case the closure of the cover (3B) is not obtained by actuating the height adjustment means (4) as illustrated above, which instead absorb the stress transmitted to the cover (3B) and cradle (20) assembly, with acceptable results in terms of sturdiness, especially considering that in such an example the cover (3B) and cradle (20) are hermetically closed as a shell, being characterized by excellent resistance to stress and preventing rubble from penetrating inside the cradle.

In such a case, the cradle (20) and cover (3B) can be mutually hinged in such a way that the latter can be closed as a shell on the former with a simple rotational movement.

Alternatively, the cover (3B) can be overlapped to the cradle (20) according to different modes, for example by translating the former towards the latter, etc. As regards the upright (3B), although only one specimen is shown in the enclosed example, it must be understood that more than one upright can be provided, such as two, three or more. In such a case, uprights can advantageously branch off from a single central pedestal, in order to increase the sturdiness of the device.

Claims

1 . Aseismic device (1 ) comprising:

- a cover (3B) adapted to cover a bed (2, 20) disposed on a floor of a house with roof,

- at least one upright (3A) disposed on said floor, which supports said cover (3B),

- height adjustment means (4) provided on said upright to move said cover (3B) from a first condition in which it is elevated at short distance from the roof of the house to a second condition in which it is lowered at short distance from the bed,

- sensor means (S1 , S2) adapted to detect an event that is indicative of an earthquake and accordingly control said height adjustment means (4), in such a way that said cover (3B) can go from the first raised position to the second lowered position, thus generating a protection for the bed occupier.

2. Device (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said height adjustment means are adapted to change the height of said cover (3B) from a first height (H) to a second height (h) equal to approximately half of the first height (H).

3. Device (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises servo controls adapted to activate the height adjustment means (4) of said upright (3A), said servo controls being connected to said sensor means (S1 , S2).

4. Device (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said sensor means comprise pressure sensors (S1 ), disposed on the upper surface of the cover (3B) to detect the fall of rubble from the roof.

5. Device (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said sensor means comprise oscillation sensors (S2), disposed at the base of said upright (3A) and adapted to detect said device (1 ).

6. Device (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said height adjustment means (4) comprise or are associated with dampening means to dissipate and/or absorb accumulated energy due to the fall of a weight on said cover (3B).

7. Device (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two uprights (3A) mutually connected by means of cross-pieces, platform or plate, in such a way to avoid, when the floor collapses, that the device bends or subsides partially in the floor.

8. Device (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said bed is a bed (2) and said device (1 ) comprises four uprights (3A) fixed in lower position to said bed (2).

9. Device (1 ) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said bed is a cradle (20) and said device (1 ) comprises one upright (3A) fixed in lower position to said cradle (20) and the cover (3B) is associated with said upright (3A) through interposition of said cradle (20).