Earthquake Support Pole Structure for Survivable Space and Door Escape
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Solution Overview
Problem
During earthquakes, buildings suffer significant damage leading to trapped individuals due to collapsing walls and ceilings, and damaged interior doors hinder safe escape.
Innovation Solution
The earthquake safety protection device (ESPD) includes earthquake support poles with anchoring mechanisms, energy-absorbing materials, and support members to create survivable spaces and facilitate safe exit through reinforced doors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional building structures are used during earthquakes, then construction is simpler and less expensive, but walls and ceilings collapse causing injuries and trapping victims
Solution Approach 1:
The earthquake support pole is pre-installed in the building before an earthquake occurs, positioned to create a protected survivable space. The pole is anchored to the floor and extends upward, with support members attached to prevent ceiling collapse onto the protected area beneath it.
Solution Approach 2:
The earthquake support pole system divides the building space into protected and non-protected zones. The pole creates a distinct survivable space beneath it, separating victims from falling debris zones. The support members further segment the ceiling structure to prevent collapse into the protected area.
2Ease of operation
If interior doors are reinforced for security, then building security is improved, but doors cannot open during earthquakes trapping victims inside
Solution Approach 1:
The earthquake support pole acts as an intermediary element that facilitates door opening during earthquakes. When seismic forces prevent a door from opening, victims can pull down on the support pole, which transfers force through the door frame via support members to mechanically assist in opening the stuck door.
Solution Approach 2:
The support pole system changes the mechanical parameters of the door assembly during an earthquake. By applying force through the pole and support members, the system alters the position and stress state of the door and frame, enabling the door to overcome seizure and open when traditional manual operation fails.
3Strength
If energy-absorbing materials are added to the anchoring mechanism, then earthquake energy is dissipated reducing damage, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring mechanism uses composite construction combining metal components (the pole and anchor arms) with energy-absorbing materials (such as foam or rubber elements). This composite structure allows the metal framework to provide structural strength while the energy-absorbing materials dissipate seismic energy through deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy-absorbing materials are pre-installed within the anchoring mechanism before an earthquake occurs. These materials are positioned to compress or deform during seismic events, absorbing energy beforehand rather than relying on the structural components alone to withstand the full force of the earthquake.
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 ESPD provides protected areas within buildings, reducing injury from debris and enabling safe evacuation by maintaining structural integrity and facilitating door opening during earthquakes.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of anchor arms include a plurality of energy absorbing cross-members
Implementation Method 2
energy absorbing material between the earthquake support pole and the building foundation and anchoring material
Implementation Method 3
an earthquake support pole having a top end positioned about the habitable ceiling of a space and a bottom end
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of support members coupled to the top end of the earthquake support poles, the plurality of support members being perpendicular to the earthquake support pole and being adjacent to the ceiling
Data Source
AI summary
An article of manufacture for an earthquake safety protection device (ESPD) according to the present invention is disclosed. The ESPD consists of an earthquake support pole and mating support members to create survivable space around the support pole should a room be damaged in an earthquake. The ESPD may also comprise a reinforced frame within an interior door of a building. The reinforced frame resists damage from an earthquake that may prevent the interior door from opening. Opening or removal of the inner door protected by the reinforced frame creates a means of safely exiting a room in spite of damage to the interior door and its corresponding door frame. The ESPD may also include a mechanism to prevent a mobile hospital bed from moving about a room during an earthquake.