Resilient Bearing Angled Limbs Seismic Dampening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seismic dampeners, such as sliding and lead-rubber bearings, are complex and expensive to manufacture and maintain, and they perform poorly under vertical forces, making them inadequate for comprehensive structural protection during earthquakes.
Innovation Solution
A resilient bearing formed from a single piece of elastic material with angled limbs that connect between a structure and its foundation, providing dampening forces across all directional seismic forces through compressive, tensile, and shear deformation, and allowing for easy installation and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding bearings or lead-rubber bearings are used for seismic dampening, then dampening performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dampening functions (horizontal, vertical, and rotational dampening) into a single integrated bearing structure. The conical element with its specific geometry provides all three dampening capabilities simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components for each function and thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive seismic protection
Solution Approach 2:
The conical element is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides horizontal dampening through lateral deformation, vertical dampening through compression and extension, and rotational dampening through torsional deformation. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, reducing complexity
2Reliability
If lead-rubber bearings are used for energy absorption, then dampening effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost and replacement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from lead inserts in rubber to a viscoelastic polymer material that inherently provides both structural support and energy dissipation. This material substitution eliminates the need for complex multi-material construction and assembly processes, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining effective energy absorption through the viscoelastic properties of the polymer
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing utilizes a composite structure combining a conical element made of viscoelastic polymer material with steel plates. This composite design integrates the energy absorption capabilities of the viscoelastic material with the structural strength of steel, achieving effective dampening without requiring expensive lead inserts or complex assembly processes
3Reliability
If conventional bearings are designed for horizontal force isolation, then horizontal dampening is improved, but performance under vertical forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a conical element with an asymmetric geometry (specific cone angle between 15-45 degrees) that is optimized to provide effective dampening in both horizontal and vertical directions. The conical shape allows the element to deform appropriately under different loading conditions, providing horizontal dampening through lateral deformation while simultaneously providing vertical dampening through compression and extension, thereby achieving versatility across different force directions
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 resilient bearing effectively reduces the severity of seismic forces applied to structures by providing comprehensive dampening across horizontal, vertical, and rotational forces, restoring structures to their normal position while being inexpensive to manufacture and install.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient bearing formed from a single piece of elastic material adapted to dampen forces due to environmental events
Implementation Method 2
the resilient bearing is formed from a single piece of elastic material adapted to dampen forces
Data Source
AI summary
A resilient bearing to be positioned between a first structure and a second structure including a central connection point for connecting the resilient bearing to the first structure and a plurality of limbs extending outwardly from the central connection point to distal connection points.The resilient bearing may be formed from a single piece of elastic material adapted to dampen forces due to environmental events. A functional property of the elastic material may vary along at least some of the plurality of limbs. The angle between each of at least some of the plurality of limbs and the second structure may be between 20 and 70 degrees.