Adjustable Partition Wall Bracket for Seismic Vertical Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing partition wall brackets do not allow for vertical movement under compression and expansion forces, leading to potential damage during seismic events and posing a risk to people and property, especially when large sheets of glazing are involved.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable partition wall bracket with a sliding shaft and sheath mechanism that accommodates vertical displacements between the wall and the upper structure, allowing for automatic adjustment to compensate for inter-storey movement and vertical loads, while also restraining lateral movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed bracket is used to attach the partition wall to the upper structure, then lateral movement is restrained, but vertical movement under compression and expansion forces is not allowed, leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates a dynamic component (the rod element) that can move vertically within the bracket body, allowing the structure to adapt from a fixed state to a movable state in response to vertical forces. This dynamic capability enables the bracket to accommodate compression and expansion forces while maintaining lateral restraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into distinct functional components: a fixed bracket body for lateral attachment and a movable rod element for vertical adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the bracket body provides stable lateral attachment while the rod element provides vertical movement accommodation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If deflection head track is used to allow vertical movement, then vertical displacement is accommodated, but it requires extensive material coverage and is expensive and difficult to install correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vertical movement function from the complex deflection head track system and concentrates it into a simple rod element that slides within the bracket body. This extraction eliminates the need for extensive material coverage and complex installation procedures while maintaining the essential function of accommodating vertical displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design changes the parameter of movement freedom by allowing the rod element to move vertically within a controlled range. This parameter change enables vertical displacement accommodation without requiring the extensive material and complex assembly of deflection head track systems.
3Strength
If the bracket is made rigid to prevent wall movement, then structural integrity is maintained, but it cannot accommodate inter-storey movement and vertical loads during seismic events
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates a dynamic rod element that can move vertically within the bracket body, transforming the structure from completely rigid to semi-rigid. This dynamic capability allows the bracket to maintain structural integrity through lateral restraint while accommodating vertical movements during seismic events through the movable rod.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable rod element acts as a cushioning mechanism that anticipates and absorbs vertical forces before they can cause damage to the partition wall or glazing. By providing this beforehand cushioning capability, the bracket protects the structure during seismic events while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a bracket to restrain a partition wall in the interior of a building. The bracket comprises a body having a generally hollow sheath and a shaft that is slidable within the sheath to adjust the bracket. The bracket is particularly suitable for supporting internal partition walls of buildings that are located in areas prone to earthquakes and high winds because the bracket allows for the wall to be laterally supported while also accommodating vertical movement experienced during building deflection and inter-storey drift without transferring compression and expansion loads onto the partition wall.