Ball-Type Isolator Recess Geometry for Earthquake Ball Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball-type isolators fail to prevent ball disengagement during large earthquakes or long-period vibrations, leading to functional breakdown due to their complex structures and high assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
The isolator features a ball-type operator with modified recess shapes, including a central rolling surface, peak-line, inflected rolling surface, and disengagement prevention wall, along with a ring-shaped ball guide, elastic coatings, and elastic connections to stabilize the ball movement and prevent disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disengagement devices are added to prevent ball breaking away, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by modifying only the specific geometry of the rolling recesses (upper and lower) to include retention walls, rather than adding complex disengagement devices throughout the isolator structure. The retention walls are localized features formed directly in the rolling recesses, providing ball retention functionality without overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling recesses themselves provide the retention function through their modified geometry with retention walls. The structure serves dual purposes: it guides the ball operator's rolling motion while simultaneously preventing ball disengagement, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms.
2Reliability
If disengagement devices are added to prevent ball breaking away, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is achieved through localized geometric modifications to the rolling recesses rather than adding separate components. This local quality approach reduces manufacturing steps and material requirements, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the retention function with the existing rolling recess structure. The retention walls are integrated into the rolling recess geometry, combining two functions (ball guidance and ball retention) into a single structural element, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs.
3Reliability
If the ball operator moves freely without constraints, then isolation performance is maintained, but ball disengagement occurs during large earthquakes
Solution Approach 1:
The retention walls are strategically positioned at specific locations within the rolling recesses to provide constraint only when necessary (at the boundaries), while leaving the central rolling path free for normal operation. This localized constraint approach maintains isolation performance during normal conditions while preventing disengagement during extreme events.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents ball disengagement and maintains stable isolation performance during earthquakes and vibrations by reducing the ball's moving speed and increasing friction, ensuring the isolator's functionality without increasing its size or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a ball operator 35 provided between the upper rolling recess 33 and the lower rolling recess 34 to roll between them
Implementation Method 2
elastic coatings 42 are provided on the upper rolling surface 33 and the lower rolling surface 34 including the disengagement prevention wall 39
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is an isolator comprising an upper panel 31 and a lower panel 32 having an upper rolling recesses 33, 34 and a ball operator 35 provided between the upper rolling recess 33 and the lower rolling recess 34, and the lower rolling recess 34 includes a central rolling sur- face 36, a peak-line 37 along the upper edge of the central rolling surface 36, an inflected rolling surface 38 formed around the peak-line 37 and a disengagement prevention wall 39.