NZ194963A

NZ194963A - Movable foundation support

Info

Publication number: NZ194963A
Application number: NZ19496380A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: D Dri
Original assignee: D Dri
Priority date: 1979-09-17
Filing date: 1980-09-15
Publication date: 1985-01-31
Also published as: IT1154740B; IT8083433A0; JPS5646042A

Description

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Publication D*t»: T.l .44GU985 j9.b(a So J 'jUiiWWiSiTgrgaa SEP 1980 Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FOUNDATIONS FOR BUILDINGS" I, DINO DRI, an Australian citizen, of 91 Mi Mi Street, Oatley, New South Wales 2223, Australia, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 194963 The present invention relates to building foundations and more particularly, but not exclusively, to building foundations for buildings located in earthquake zones, which foundations provide for relative movement between a building and the ground surface upon which the building is supported.

In areas where the ground surface is subject to movement, such as areas which suffer from earthquakes, considerable damage results from movement of the earth's surface relative to the buildings supported thereon, since the foundations do not provide for this relative movement.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a building support to allow relative movement between a bulding and its foundations during earth disturbances such as earthquakes, said support comprising; a substantially horizontal first plate to be fixed to the foundation, a second substantially horizontal plate to be fixed to the building above the first plate, said first plate and said second plate each having a concave portion, which portions cooperate to define a cavity, a spherical bearing means located within said cavity and supporting said second plate on said first plate so that upon relative horizontal movement between the two plates said second plate moves vertically so as to be biased under the influence of gravity to return to a predetermined rest position, and a generally horizontal ring surrounding each spherical portion so that movement between the two plates is not abruDtly disrupted.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 schematically depicts a domestic building in section provided with foundations; Figure 2 schematically depicts a portion of the building and foundations of Figure 1; Figure 3 partly schematically depicts foundations of A t-r v, Figure 1; and Figures 4 to 9 schematically depict alternative foundations to that depicted in Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there is depicted a domestic building 10 supported on foundations 11 by means of supports 12 which provide for relative movement between the building 10 and its foundations 11. The purpose of providing supports 12 is to prevent or at least minimise distortion of the building 10 should the ground surface, as indicated in Figure 2, move. The 10 supports 12 allow relative horizontal movement between the building 10 and its foundations 11, thereby preventing distortion of and damage to the building 10. comprise two discs 13 and 14, of which the lower disc 14 is attached to foundations 11 while upper disc 13 is attached to the frame 15 of the building 10. Both upper and lower discs 13 and 14 are concave so as to be generally cup shaped. Located between the discs 13 and 14 is a spherical support bearing 16, which by means of rolling contact with the discs 13 and 14 20 provides for relative movement between the foundations 11 and the building 10. Also due to the concave nature of the discs 13 and 14, gravity will bias the building 10 to a position of lowest centre of gravity.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 the supports 12 Preferably the space defined between the discs 13 and 14 is sealed by means of resilient ring 17 and can be provided with means so that the inner surfaces of the discs 13 and 14 and bearings 16 may be lubricated. Alternatively the surfaces of the discs 13 and 14 and bearings 16 may be coated with a corrosion resistant material.

In Figure 4 there is depicted an alternative support t which has 2 or more support bearings 21 fixed relative to each other by means of a cage 22 so that they move in a group in response to movement of the upper and lower discs 23 and 28. Additionally, there is provided projections 24 for the securing of the discs 23 and 28 to the frame of a building and its foundations. The tube 25 allows a lubricant to be injected into the cavity 26 surrounding the bearings 21, while enclosing the cavity 26 is a sealing ring 27.

In Figure 5 the support 30 has upper and lower discs 31 and 32 spaced by a spherical support bearing 33 held in position and fixed to the upper disc 32 by cage 34. The cage 34 includes bearings 35 to allow rotation of the bearing 33.

In Figure 6 the support 40 comprises a lower member 41 formed of preferably plastics material having a lower coefficient of friction and an upper member 42. The cover member 41 is a generally planar configuration and the upper member has a projection 43 to slidably engage the member 42.

In Figure 7 there is depicted a still further embodiment of the present invention. This further embodiment is the support 50, which includes curved plates 51 and 52, with the plate 51 fixed to the frame of the structure, and the plate 52 fixed to the foundation for the structure. Located between the plates 51 and 52 is a carrier 53 which supports a plurality of balls 54 which contact the plates 51 and 52 to allow horizontal relative motion between the plates 51 and 52. Sandwiched between the peripheral edges of the plates 51 and 52 are seals 55. The upper plate 51 could be provided with a spirit level.

Turning now to the embodiment 56 of Figure 8, the support 60 has an upper part 61 adapted to be attached to the frame of a building, and a lower part 62 adapted to be attached 194963 to the foundations for the building. The parts 61 and 62 have abutting surfaces 63 and 64 which have a resulting co-efficient of friction which would allow relative horizontal sliding motion between the two parts 61 and 62 should the foundations move.

In Figure 9 there is depicted a last embodiment which is the support 70. The support 70 has an upper plate 71 to be attached to a building and a lower plate 72 to be fixed to the foundations for the building. Located between the 10 plates 71 and 72 is a carrier 73 which has balls 74 which contact the plates 71 and 72 to provide for relative movement therebetween. Located between the peripheral edges of the plates 71 and 72 are seals 75.

To further prevent distortion of the building of Figure 1, the frame 15 is preferably of steel construction.

In Figures 2 to 5, 7 and 9, the upper and lower discs are formed integral with the generally annular planar rings 76 so that movement between the upper and lower discs is not obstructed when horizontal movement between the upper and 20 lower discs is such that the bearing element is near or at the edge of the concave surfaces of one or both of the discs.

In the present invention as described above, the limitation, present in the prior art, of having an upstanding wall surrounding the concave surfaces and thereby obstructing full movement of the bearing elements, is avoided.

Claims

194963 * What I claim is:

1. A building support to allow relative movement between a building and its foundations during earth disturbances such as earthquakes, said support comprising; a substantially horizontal first plate to be fixed to the foundation, a second substantially horizontal plate to be fixed to the building above the first plate, said first plate and said second plate each having a concave portion, which portions cooperate to define a cavity, a spherical bearing means located within said cavity and supporting said second plate on said first plate so that upon relative horizontal movement between the two plates in use and in the event of said earth disturbance said second plate also moves vertically under the constraint of the concave portions so as to be biased under the influence of gravity to return to a predetermined rest position, and a substantially horizontal planar ring contiguous to and surrounding each concave portion so that movement between the two plates is

2. The building support of claim 1 wherein said spherical bearing means includes a bearing cage within which there is captively located a plurality of spherical bearing means which contact said first and second plates.

3. A building support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, 7 and 9 of the accompanying drawings. 6