Vibration control device

Abstract

To absorb vibration when a large earthquake occurs and to suppress the accumulation of damages caused by small earthquakes.SOLUTION: A vibration control device comprises a frame body with at least two sides fixed to other pillars or cross members that make up a building, and a plurality of vibration control members installed in parallel within the frame body. When the building shakes, the frame body deforms and the neighboring vibration control members rub against each other as the frame body deforms, to control vibration. The vibration control device further comprises a deformation restriction mechanism that is provided in the frame body and that restricts deformation of the frame body until the building shakes by a predetermined amount or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration damping device. [Background technology]

[0002] Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, and small earthquakes occur frequently on a daily basis. For this reason, if a building's rigidity is low, it will shake regardless of the size of the earthquake, and damage from the shaking will accumulate, making it more likely to collapse in the event of a major earthquake.

[0003] On the other hand, if a building is too rigid, it will not be able to absorb the shaking that occurs during a major earthquake, resulting in severe localized damage.As a result, even if the building avoids collapse, it will suffer damage that renders it unusable.

[0004] The applicant has commercialized the vibration control device shown in Patent Document 1. This vibration control device comprises a frame body in which at least the upper and lower frame edges are fixed to upper and lower cross members, and a plurality of vibration control members that are installed in parallel within the frame body and adjacent members come into contact with each other, and when the building shakes, the frame body deforms, and as a result, the vibration control members are displaced and rub against each other, absorbing the shaking.

[0005] In other words, this vibration control device can absorb the shaking of a building when an earthquake occurs, but since the building will shake regardless of the magnitude of the earthquake, damage will inevitably accumulate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4485287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to absorb shaking when a large earthquake occurs and to suppress the accumulation of damage caused by small earthquakes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The vibration control device of the present invention comprises a frame body, at least two sides of which are fixed to other pillars or cross members that make up the building, and vibration control members that are installed in parallel within the frame body; when the building shakes, the frame body deforms, and as the deformation occurs, adjacent vibration control members rub against each other to control vibration; and the device is characterized by further comprising a deformation control mechanism that is provided on the frame body and controls the deformation of the frame body until the building shakes more than a predetermined amount.

[0009] According to the present invention, deformation of the frame body is restricted until the building shakes more than a predetermined amount, contributing to improved rigidity. As a result, in small earthquakes, the shaking itself can be suppressed, and the accumulation of damage is suppressed. On the other hand, when the building shakes more than a predetermined amount, the frame body deforms and absorbs the shaking. As a result, even old buildings are less likely to collapse in a large earthquake.

[0010] A specific embodiment of the deformation control mechanism is one in which the deformation control mechanism includes a connecting body that connects at least two sides of the frame body and controls their relative positions so that they do not change, and the connecting body breaks when it sways more than the specified amount, thereby releasing the control.

[0011] With this configuration, the deformation restriction mechanism does not have to be a large-scale structure, and the device can be made smaller.

[0012] The two sides may be adjacent sides, and the connector may be a welded portion interposed between the two adjacent sides.

[0013] With this configuration, the structure of the deformation restriction mechanism is simplified, the device can be made more compact, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0014] In this vibration control device, the vibration control members change their relative positions and rub against each other, which acts as resistance to absorb vibrations and control vibrations. Therefore, if the relative positional changes of the vibration control members are hindered, the vibration control performance will decrease.

[0015] Therefore, the frame body may comprise an inner frame installed in the space surrounded by the pillars and the cross members, and at least two flanges protruding outward from the inner frame, and the two flanges may each be fixed to a different pillar or cross member, and the welded portion may be interposed between the two flanges.

[0016] With this configuration, the welds can be formed outside the inner frame inside which the seismic damping members are installed, so the welds do not interfere with the seismic damping members and do not hinder changes in their relative position, thereby maintaining seismic damping performance.

[0017] This type of vibration control device is often installed in a space surrounded by pillars and cross members and embedded in the wall. In this case, it is preferable that the width of the vibration control member is expanded to the full width of the pillars and cross members to ensure vibration control performance.

[0018] However, the vibration-damping member described in Patent Document 1 employs a structure in which a frame body installed in a space surrounded by pillars and cross members is screwed from the inside, so it is necessary to secure space inside the frame body for screwing, and the width of the vibration-damping member had to be reduced by the amount of this space.

[0019] Therefore, by fixing the frame body via a flange, there is no need to reserve space inside the frame body for screwing, and the width of the vibration-damping member can be expanded to the full width of the pillar or cross member, making it easier to ensure vibration-damping performance.

[0020] In other words, it is preferable that the width of the vibration-damping member be approximately the same as the width of the column or cross member to which it is fixed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to absorb shaking during a large earthquake and suppress the accumulation of damage caused by small earthquakes, thereby preventing buildings from collapsing or suffering severe damage during a large earthquake. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a building to which a seismic damping device according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a vibration damping device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a vibration damping device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the binding mechanism of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a building to which a vibration control device of this embodiment is fixed is shaking. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a vibration damping device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The vibration damping device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0024] The present invention is intended to be used by fixing it to pillars or beams that constitute a building such as a house. For example, it is installed in an enclosed space surrounded by pillars or beams, and is embedded in the wall so as not to be exposed on the surface of the building. However, it is not necessarily required to embed it in the wall, and it may be used exposed on the surface of the building.

[0025] <Embodiment> As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a vibration damping device 100 according to this embodiment includes a frame body 10 and a plurality of vibration damping members 20 arranged in parallel inside the frame body 10.

[0026] The frame 10 has at least two sides 10a that are fixed to pillars X or cross members Y that constitute the building. Each of these sides 10a is fixed to a different pillar X or cross member Y. In this embodiment, the frame 10 has a rectangular shape and is installed so as to fit into a rectangular enclosed space S that is surrounded on all four sides by pillars X or cross members Y, with each of the four sides 10a being fixed to a different pillar X or cross member Y. These sides 10a are arranged parallel to the pillars X or cross members Y to which they are fixed, and are installed so as to be in close contact with them.

[0027] When the building sways, the frame body 10 deforms to fit the shape of the enclosed space S. Specifically, when the building sways, the enclosed space S repeatedly deforms between a rectangular shape and a parallelogram shape, and the frame body 10 deforms to fit this change in shape. In other words, the frame body 10 deforms by changing the angle of the corner formed by adjacent sides 10a without changing the shape of each side 10a.

[0028] Here, in the frame body 10 of this embodiment, all four sides 10a are fixed to the pillars X or cross members Y, but it is sufficient to fix at least two sides. These two sides 10a may be two sides facing each other or two sides adjacent to each other.

[0029] More specifically, the frame body 10 is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate into a rectangular shape, and includes an inner frame 11 that is fitted into the enclosed space S, and flanges 12 that protrude outward from each inner frame side 11a of the inner frame 11, and is fixed to the pillar material X or the cross member Y via these flanges 12 with screws or bolts. The frame body 10 is configured to be elastically deformable by utilizing the elasticity of the metal plate.

[0030] The flange 12 protrudes perpendicularly to the inner frame side 11a from one end of the inner frame side 11a facing the opening direction of the inner frame 11, and by fitting the inner frame 11 into the enclosed space S, it is attached to the mounting surface Z of the column material X or cross member Y facing the opening direction of the enclosed space S.

[0031] Furthermore, a gap is formed between adjacent flanges 12. This gap has a shape that gradually widens outward.

[0032] The vibration-damping members 20 are rectangular pillar-shaped and made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, such as wood or rubber. In this embodiment, each vibration-damping member 20 has the same shape and is installed parallel to the pillar X, but this is not limiting. For example, each vibration-damping member 11 may be installed parallel to the cross member Y, or may be installed at an angle so as not to be parallel to either the pillar X or the cross member Y. The width of the vibration-damping member is set so that it does not protrude from the enclosed space, and specifically, it is approximately the same as the width of the pillar or cross member.

[0033] These vibration-damping members 11 are installed with their longitudinally extending surfaces in close contact with each other. In this embodiment, the vibration-damping members 11 are bound together by a binding mechanism 30 and are then fitted and fixed into the inner frame 11 while bound by this binding mechanism 30. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, this binding mechanism 30 fastens the vibration-damping members together, and the vibration-damping performance can be adjusted by adjusting the degree of fastening.

[0034] More specifically, the binding mechanism 30 comprises a through hole 31 formed in each vibration-damping member 20, a bolt 32 that is passed through each through hole 31 to connect them together, and a nut 33 that is threaded onto the bolt 32, and the degree of tightening can be adjusted using the nut 33.

[0035] The vibration control device 100 according to this embodiment further includes a deformation restriction mechanism 40 that is provided on the frame body 10 and restricts deformation of the frame body 10 until the building sways beyond a predetermined level. In other words, the deformation restriction mechanism 40 restricts changes in the shape of the frame body 10 and maintains it in a rectangular shape until the building sways beyond a predetermined level.

[0036] This deformation restriction mechanism 40 has a connector 41 that connects at least two sides 10a of the frame body 10 and restricts the relative positions of those sides from changing until the building sways beyond a predetermined level. This connector 41 is configured to break and release the restriction when the building sways beyond a predetermined level. In this embodiment, two adjacent sides 10a are connected, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, two opposing sides may be connected. Also, three or four sides may be connected.

[0037] The connector 41 is formed of a material that is more easily broken than the material that constitutes the frame 10. Specifically, it is formed of a material with a weaker tensile stress. More specifically, the connector 41 in this embodiment is a welded portion provided to fill the gap between the flanges 12 of adjacent sides 10a.

[0038] Next, the operation of the vibration damping device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] When the building is not shaking, the frame body 10 has a rectangular shape similar to the enclosed space S. Even if shaking occurs due to, for example, an earthquake or strong wind, if the shaking is small, the deformation of the frame body 10 is restricted by the deformation restriction mechanism 40, so the frame body 10 maintains its rectangular shape. While the deformation of the frame body 10 is restricted, it tries to suppress deformation of the enclosed space S, thereby contributing to improving the rigidity of the building.

[0040] On the other hand, when the shaking of the building exceeds a predetermined level, the frame body 10 is released from the restriction on deformation imposed by the deformation restriction mechanism 40 and begins to deform. Specifically, the connectors 41 (welded joints) break and the restriction is released. This allows the frame body 10 to freely deform in accordance with the deformation of the enclosed space S, and while the building is shaking, it repeatedly changes shape between a rectangular shape and a parallelogram shape. At this time, the relative positions of adjacent vibration-damping members 20 change and they rub against each other, and this resistance absorbs and damps the shaking.

[0041] With the vibration control device 100 according to this embodiment, the frame 10 does not deform until the building shakes more than a predetermined amount, which contributes to improving rigidity. As a result, for example, in a small earthquake, the shaking itself can be suppressed, and the accumulation of damage is suppressed. On the other hand, when the building shakes more than a predetermined amount, the frame 10 deforms and absorbs the shaking. As a result, even old buildings are less likely to collapse in a large earthquake.

[0042] Furthermore, the vibration control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires space inside the frame for driving nails or screws. Therefore, when embedding the device in a wall, the width of the vibration control members must be narrowed to accommodate the space. As a result, the contact area between the vibration control members is narrowed, and the vibration absorption capacity cannot be improved as desired. However, in this embodiment, the frame 10 is fixed via the flange 12, so the width of the vibration control members 20 can be expanded to the full width of the column member X or the cross member Y, thereby increasing the contact area between adjacent vibration control members 20. As a result, the vibration control performance can be improved.

[0043] Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, a weld is provided to fill the gap formed between adjacent flanges. However, for example, adjacent flanges may be configured so that their ends overlap, and the ends may be fixed together by welding.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the flanges are connected by connectors, but this is not necessarily limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the frame body 10 may be formed only by the inner frame 11, and adjacent sides 10a may be connected by connectors, or as shown in Fig. 6(b), opposing sides 10a may be connected by connectors.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a deformation restriction mechanism that breaks to release the restriction is used, but the restriction may be released by means other than breaking.

[0046] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 100 Seismic control device X pillar material Y beam 10 Frame Area 10a 11 Inner frame 11a Inner frame edge 12 flange 20 Seismic Damping Members 40 Deformation control mechanism 41 Connector (weld)

Claims

1. A vibration control device comprising a frame body, at least two sides of which are fixed to other columns or cross members that constitute a building, and a plurality of vibration control members installed in parallel within the frame body, in which, when the building shakes, the frame body deforms, and the adjacent vibration control members rub against each other as a result of the deformation, thereby controlling vibrations, A seismic control device characterized by further comprising a deformation restriction mechanism provided on the frame body that restricts deformation of the frame body until the building sways more than a predetermined amount.

2. the deformation restriction mechanism includes a connector that connects at least two sides of the frame body and restricts the relative position thereof from changing, The vibration damping device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member breaks when the vibration exceeds the predetermined value, thereby releasing the restriction.

3. The two sides are adjacent sides, 3. The vibration damping device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is a welded portion interposed between the two adjacent sides.

4. The frame body comprises an inner frame installed in a space surrounded by the pillars and the horizontal members, and at least two flanges protruding outward from the inner frame, and the two flanges are fixed to different pillars or horizontal members, 4. The vibration damping device according to claim 3, wherein the weld is interposed between the two flanges.

5. 5. The vibration damping device according to claim 4, wherein the width of the vibration damping member is approximately equal to the width of the column or cross member to which it is fixed.

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