Support columns for the technical floor equipped with earthquake-resistant safety devices.

Abstract

A safety device for supporting columns of technical floors. The device is adapted to be fixed to a slab and comprises a strip of a certain length and width with a raised central portion (32) and at least two end portions (35) located at a lower level than the raised central portion (32). The device also comprises a semi-column (34) fixed to the central portion and elevated with respect to the end portions. The semi-column has an inner diameter (37) greater than the outer diameter of each column to which the device is applied. The invention also relates to a technical floor consisting of columns to which the device is applied.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a safety device applied to a technical floor. In particular, the present invention relates to a safety device with a seismic function applied to the columns of a technical floor.

Background Art

[0002] Technical floors are known. Such floors are generally provided in an office environment and are made by arranging a plurality of columns on a building slab and attaching panels that provide a walking surface of the technical floor when work is completed on the columns.

[0003] The walking surface thus made is arranged at a predetermined distance from the building slab so as to form a space between the walking surface and the slab, and various technical systems necessary for the correct operation of the environment into which they are inserted can be accommodated in this space. It is also known that there are various standards, particularly static type standards, which define the bearing capacity class of a technical floor.

[0004] For example, in the case of a floor, these classes can define a static operating load ranging from a minimum of 200 kg to a maximum of 600 kg obtained from a 25x25 mm punch at the center of a predefined surface, for example, a 6.25 cm surface. 2 The technical floor is sized according to the static bearing capacity class and is preferably arranged such that the columns are simply placed on the slab and often consists of a soundproof PAD made of a plastic material arranged to function as a bearing pad at the base of each column.

[0005]

[0006] ​Generally, when it is stipulated that a technical floor must be sized to resist seismic phenomena and therefore to support horizontal and vertical accelerations, prior art stipulates intervention in the technical floor to stabilize the supports.

[0007] According to some known solutions, for example, the base of the support column can be fixed to the slab with screws or adhesive to withstand vertical acceleration caused by earthquakes and seismic phenomena. However, this solution has the problem that it eliminates the noise reduction function of the plastic soundproofing pad.

[0008] According to other solutions in the publicly known technology, for example, this can be provided by locking the top of the support column with tie rods / braces to resist horizontal acceleration caused by earthquakes.

[0009] However, this solution has the problem of partially obstructing the space formed between the walking surface and the slab of the technical floor, and therefore contradicts the essential characteristic of a technical floor: the formation of space between the walking surface and the slab for accommodating various technical systems.

[0010] According to the prior art solutions described above, it is also possible to modify the material and thickness of the support columns to counteract earthquake phenomena.

[0011] For example, the dimensions of the support columns can be increased to increase their thickness and support surface, allowing them to be more securely attached to the slab.

[0012] In summary, the applicant noted that the prior art cannot effectively solve the problem of providing a technical floor that simultaneously counteracts seismic phenomena and does not demonstrate the limitations and problems of the prior art highlighted above. [Overview of the project]

[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the known prior art.

[0014] This objective is achieved by an earthquake-resistant safety device comprising the features described in the following claims.

[0015] Furthermore, this objective is also achieved by a technical floor comprising the features described in the following claims.

[0016] The claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] The following summary of the present invention is provided to give a basic understanding of some aspects and features of the invention.

[0018] This abstract is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of the invention, nor is it intended to specifically identify any key or important elements of the invention or to clarify its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some of the concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a preliminary step to the more detailed description below.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the seismic safety device is configured to provide a bridge structure comprising a bridge-shaped strip having a certain length and width and semi-columns having a circular cross-section.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the strip has a raised central portion and two ends that serve as a base for the strip, and the semi-column is fixed to the central portion so as to be higher than the ends.

[0021] The semi-column is preferably fixed in the center, and the two ends are configured to be fixed to the slab, for example, by appropriate bolts passing through holes provided at the ends.

[0022] In use, as a support column, i.e., as an installation function of the technical floor, the semi-column surrounds the tube or threaded tie rod with a certain margin greater than zero, and provides a bridge shape in which only the end of the strip is fixed to the slab without interfering with the plate placed on the slab.

[0023] Preferably, the half-column is sized to have an inner diameter that is 1 to 4 mm larger than the outer diameter of the tube or the outer diameter of the threaded tie rod, depending on whether the base or the head of the support column is placed on the slab.

[0024] For example, depending on the installation type, the half-column is made to have a thickness of 1 to 4 mm and an inner diameter of 15 to 30 mm while respecting the above indications.

[0025] The raised central part of the safety device varies in size depending on the size of the plate placed on the slab during use.

[0026] Preferably, the raised central part is made to rise in the range of 1 to 6 mm as the height / thickness of the plate placed on the slab during use. [[ID=I8]]

[0027] Preferably, the ends of the safety device have dimensions suitable for fixing the ends to the slab.

[0028] Preferably, the semi-column of the safety device is made so as not to prevent the insertion of the threaded tie rod into the tube.

[0029] Preferably, the height of the half-column with respect to the slab is about 50 to 300 mm according to the generally commercially available technical floor where the base is placed on the slab.

[0030] When based on the technical floor where the head of the support column is placed on the slab, the height of the half-column with respect to the slab is preferably about 50 to 100 mm.

[0031] Preferably, a technical floor comprising columns to which the seismic safety devices according to the present invention are applied provides that each safety device is positioned such that each strip of safety device is oriented at 45° with respect to each side of the panel and 180° with respect to adjacent safety device strips in order to better counteract seismic phenomena. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are provided as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a support column of a technical floor to which the safety device according to the present invention is applied. Figures 2a and 2b are a cross-sectional side view and a plan view, respectively, of the safety device according to the present invention. Figures 3a and 3b are a side view and a partial plan view of a technical floor constructed using the safety device according to the present invention, respectively. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] Referring to Figure 1, a support column 9 of the technical floor 5 to which the seismic safety device 10 according to the present invention is applied is shown.

[0034] The support column 9 disclosed herein for completeness is of a known type and consists of a base plate 11 configured to rest on a slab 12 and a pipe 14 having a circular cross-section that protrudes from the base plate 11 by a predetermined length.

[0035] The base plate 11 and the pipe 14 form the base 19 of the support column 9.

[0036] The support column 9 also comprises a threaded tie rod 25 sized to slide within the pipe 14, and a threaded nut 15 configured to restrict the sliding of the threaded tie rod within the pipe 14 in a known manner, thereby defining the height of the support column.

[0037] One end of the threaded tie rod 25 is connected to a tie rod plate 21 configured to support one or more panels 6 of the technical floor 5.

[0038] The threaded tie rod 25 and tie rod plate 21 form the head 20 of the support column 9.

[0039] When in use, the threaded nut 15 works in cooperation with the pipe 14 of the base 19 to fix the height of the support column, and consequently the height of the panel 6 of the technical floor 5 relative to the slab 12.

[0040] Preferably, in the technical floor, adjacent support columns 9, in particular each tie rod plate 21, are connected by cross pieces 7 that are screwed to adjacent tie rod plates, for example, by self-tapping screws 8.

[0041] According to known modifications, the support column 9 is also provided to be installed inverted vertically so that when in use, the head 20 rests on the slab 12 and the base 19 supports one or more panels 6 of the technical floor 5.

[0042] The safety device 10 (Figures 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) is configured to form a bridge structure and consists of a strip-shaped body 31 of a certain length and width in the shape of a bridge and a semi-column 34 with a circular cross-section.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the strip-shaped body 31 consists of a raised central portion 32 and two ends 35 that function as the base of the strip-shaped body and are positioned on a plane lower than the central portion.

[0044] The semi-column 34 is fixed in the center so that it is higher than the ends.

[0045] The central section 32 and the semi-column 34 are raised to match the height / thickness of the plate 11 or 21 that is placed on the slab during use.

[0046] The semi-column 34 is preferably fixed to the central portion 32 at the center of gravity, and the two ends 35 are configured to be fixed to the slab 12 by appropriate bolts 46 passing through holes 36 provided in each end 35.

[0047] The central portion 32 of the strip-shaped body 31 is longer than the diameter of the plate 11 or 21 of the base 19 or head 20 of the support column, so as to prevent interference with the plate itself during use, depending on the type of installation of the technical floor.

[0048] The safety device 10 provides a bridge-like structure in which, when in use, depending on the installation type of the support column 9, the semi-column 34 surrounds the pipe 14 or threaded tie rod 25, and the end 35 of the strip-shaped body 31 is fixed to the slab 12 without interfering with the type of plate 11 or 21 placed on the slab 12.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the strip-shaped body 31 of the safety device 10 has a thickness between 1 and 4 mm and has variable dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the support columns 9 provided for the structure of the technical floor 5.

[0050] Preferably, the semi-column is sized to have an inner diameter 37 that is 1 to 4 mm larger than the outer diameter of the tube 14 or threaded tie rod 25, depending on whether the base 19 or head 20 of the support column 9 is placed on the slab.

[0051] For example, depending on the installation type, the semi-column 34 is manufactured with a thickness between 1 mm and 4 mm and an inner diameter between 15 mm and 30 mm.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, the raised central portion 32 of the safety device 10 has a variable dimension depending on the dimensions of the plate 11 or 21 that is placed on the slab 12 during use.

[0053] Preferably, the central portion 32 is made to be 1 to 40 mm larger than the diameter of the plate that is placed on the slab 12 when in use.

[0054] According to a preferred embodiment, the end 35 of the safety device 10 is sized to be suitable for fixing the end to the slab 12. Preferably, the ends are made to have dimensions in the range of 20 to 50 mm in both length and width.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the semi-column 34 of the safety device 10 is designed not to obstruct the insertion of the threaded tie rod 25 into the tube 14.

[0056] Preferably, the height of the semi-column 34 relative to the slab is approximately 50-300 mm, based on a commercially available technical floor in which the base 19 of the support column 9 rests on the slab 12.

[0057] When the top 20 of the support column 9 is placed on the slab 12, the height of the semi-column 34 relative to the slab is preferably about 50 to 100 mm.

[0058] This technical floor is made of, for example, panels 6 with a thickness of 30 mm and support columns 9 having a base 19 with a height of 250 mm and a top 20 with a height of 120 mm, and the tie rod plate 21 of the top 20 is positioned at a height such that it provides a walking surface at a height between 270 and 370 mm relative to the slab.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment, the safety device is made of steel, carbon, or synthetic resin, and the semi-column 34 is fixed to the strip 31 by, for example, welding, riveting, crimping, or other suitable process.

[0060] In summary, the seismic safety device 10 is configured to ensure greater stability for the support columns 9 of the elevated technical floor 5 that are subjected to seismic activity.

[0061] In fact, the seismic safety device 10 is formed to have two or more ends 35 that come into contact with the slab 12, and preferably has two or more holes 36 that facilitate fixing to the same slab.

[0062] Furthermore, depending on the type of technical floor, the seismic safety device is configured with a raised central portion 32 to eliminate contact points between the support column 9 and the base plate 11 or tie rod plate 21.

[0063] The semi-column 34, depending on the type of technical floor, plays a role in transmitting the stability provided by the end 35 fixed to the slab to the tube 14 or threaded tie rod 25, and is fixed to the center of the seismic safety device that allows the column 9 to withstand both horizontal and vertical seismic stresses.

[0064] In particular, the seismic safety device 10 does not directly fix the support columns 9 to the slab 12, but surrounds each support column with a constant margin greater than zero, thereby allowing the support columns 9 to move minimally in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and further mitigating seismic stress.

[0065] In particular, for example, a vertical movement margin of 1 to 6 mm should be provided between the support column and the safety device.

[0066] The safety device 10, which has been experimentally verified by the applicant and has been disclosed to date, enables the technical floor to overcome horizontal and / or vertical accelerations caused by seismic phenomena.

[0067] In the construction of the technical floor 5 according to this embodiment, the support columns 9 (Figures 3a and 3b), for example, the base 19, are first placed on the slab in a known manner.

[0068] In particular, the base 19 of the support column 9 is preferably placed on a slab 12 that provides a soundproofing pad 18 so as to function as a load-bearing pad for each base plate 11.

[0069] Preferably, the base 19 or head 20 of the support column 9, i.e., the base plate 11 or tie rod plate 21, is not fixed to the slab.

[0070] Furthermore, initially, according to a preferred embodiment, for each support column, the safety device 10 is provided to be positioned so as to overlap the base 19 or head 20 of each support column 9 and to be fixed to the slab 12.

[0071] According to possible modifications, the safety device 10 is provided to be applied not to all pillars, but to at least 50% of the pillars used in the construction of the technical floor, thereby not departing from the scope disclosed and claimed.

[0072] Preferably, in order to better respond to acceleration caused by earthquake phenomena, the strip-shaped body 31 of the safety device 10 is positioned at a 45° angle to the side of the panel 6 and at a 180° angle to the adjacent strip-shaped body of the safety device.

[0073] Figure 3b schematically shows the placement of safety devices for, for example, a set of nine panels, “A” through “I”, on Technical Floor 5, where safety devices are applied to all support columns.

[0074] Immediately afterward, the head 20 is attached and brought to the desired height by a threaded nut 15, for example, to provide the desired height of the panel 6, and therefore the desired height of the technical floor with respect to the slab 12.

[0075] Preferably, at this stage, the heads 20 of the support columns 9 are connected to each other by cross pieces 7, for example, which are screwed to the tie rod plates 21 of the heads 20 with self-tapping screws 8.

[0076] Once the above steps are completed, panel 6 will be placed, and the construction of technical floor 5 will be finished.

[0077] For completeness, it should be noted that if the head 20 of the support column 9 is resting on the slab 12, the threaded nut 15 should only be screwed onto the threaded tie rod 25 after the safety device 10 has been positioned and secured on the slab 12 so as to overlap the head 20 of the support column 9.

[0078] The applicant conducted multiple experimental tests on a group of test subjects including the following: - Four standard support posts with a height of approximately 260-360mm (accounting for approximately 90% of the support posts used on technical floors); - Four safety devices consisting of semi-columns, 100-150 mm above the slab; - Four cross pieces 7 screwed to the top of the support column 9; - A 600x600mm panel 6 is simply supported and mounted on top of the head 20 and cross piece 7, with a load of 630kg evenly distributed across the panel surface.

[0079] In particular, during the tests, the system was subjected to intense lateral thrust without collapsing.

[0080] In summary, the applicant experimentally verified that the seismic safety device 10 according to the embodiment of this example enables a technical floor to easily overcome various types of seismic events, particularly in the context of a technical floor whose height relative to the slab does not exceed 400 mm, without requiring the use of special materials or interventions that impair the essential properties of the technical floor.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the safety device has two ends or legs that are positioned to be fixed to the slab.

[0082] According to other embodiments, the safety device may consist of three or more legs fixed to the slab, without departing from the scope disclosed and claimed.

[0083] This modification expands the possibilities for securing the safety device to the slab.

[0084] According to further embodiments, without departing from the scope disclosed and claimed thereby, the apparatus can be manufactured with two half-shells configured to be fixed to each other so as to form the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0085] Such a safety device configuration is convenient when provided for application to technical floors where seismic safety devices are already installed and / or in use. According to further embodiments, the safety device may be made from a single preform or molded part and may include ribs or reinforcing and / or support elements to improve stability and lateral resistance during seismic events, without departing from the scope of what is disclosed and claimed therein.

[0086] In further embodiments, the support tubes and semi-columns of the safety devices may have external cross-sectional shapes such as square, elliptical, or rectangular, in compatibility with the functions described above, without departing from the scope of the disclosure and claims.

[0087] Advantageously, according to this embodiment, the column is not constrained to the slab but can slide freely in both the vertical and horizontal directions within the tolerances allowed by the safety device.

[0088] Because the support columns are given freedom in both the vertical and horizontal directions, the technical floor can better withstand the horizontal and vertical accelerations caused by earthquakes.

[0089] Advantageously, the technical floor has the following characteristics: - The space on the technical floor will not be obstructed. - If a soundproofing pad is present, its function will be maintained.

[0090] Of course, obvious changes and / or modifications to the above disclosure are possible with respect to dimensions, shape, materials and components, as well as details of the described structure and operation, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A support column (9) of a technical floor (5) comprising an earthquake-resistant safety device (10) configured to be applied to the support column (9), wherein the support column (9) - A base (19) having a base plate (11) and a tube (14) protruding from the base plate, - A head (20) having a tie rod plate (21) and a threaded tie rod (25) connected to the tie rod plate, - A threaded nut (15) configured to restrict the sliding of the threaded tie rod (25) within the pipe (14), Equipped with, The base plate, or the tie rod plate in its place, is configured to be placed on the slab (12) when in use, as a function of installing the technical floor. The aforementioned earthquake-resistant safety device (10) - The raised central part (32), - At least two ends (35) are positioned on a lower plane relative to the raised central portion (32) and are configured to be fixed to the slab (12) when in use, Having, - A strip-shaped body (31) having a certain length and width, - A semi-column (34) is formed in the raised central part and protrudes from the raised central part so as to be higher than the end part, Equipped with, A support column equipped with an earthquake-resistant safety device, characterized in that the inner diameter (37) of the semi-column is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe (14) or threaded tie rod (25) of the support column, and as a function of installing the technical floor, the earthquake-resistant safety device (10) is fixed to the slab (12) by the at least two ends (35) when in use, and the semi-column (34) surrounds the support column (9) with a certain margin greater than zero, and the semi-column (34) of the earthquake-resistant safety device (10) is arranged to surround the pipe (14) or threaded tie rod (25) of the support column (9).

2. The support column equipped with the seismic safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the semi-column is configured at the center of gravity relative to the raised central portion (32).

3. A support column equipped with an earthquake-resistant safety device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner diameter is larger by 1 to 4 mm than the outer diameter of the support column to which the earthquake-resistant safety device is applied.

4. A support column equipped with an earthquake-resistant safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the at least two ends is provided with one or more holes (36) for fixing the earthquake-resistant safety device to the slab.

5. A support column equipped with an earthquake-resistant safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the raised central portion (32) leaves a certain vertical movement margin with respect to the base plate (11) or the tie rod plate (21).

6. The column equipped with the seismic safety device according to claim 5, characterized in that the aforementioned constant vertical movement margin is set to be between 1 and 6 mm.

7. A technical floor comprising at least one panel (6) and at least four support columns (9) configured to support the at least one panel and equipped with an earthquake-resistant safety device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, A technical floor characterized in that, depending on the type of technical floor, the base plate or, instead of, the tie rod plate is placed on the slab when in use.

8. The technical floor according to claim 7, characterized in that the central portion (32) of the seismic safety device has a length greater than the diameter of the base plate or tie rod plate of each of the at least four support columns, depending on the type of technical floor.

9. The technical floor according to claim 8, characterized in that the length, which is larger than the diameter of the base plate or the tie rod plate, is within a range of 1 to 40 mm.

10. The technical floor according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that each of the strip-shaped bodies (31) of the seismic safety device is oriented at a 45° angle with respect to one side of at least one panel (6) and at a 180° angle with respect to the adjacent strip-shaped body of the seismic safety device.

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