SEISMIC ISOLATION ACCESS FLOOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20070220815A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoltan Kemeny
• Original Assignee: Zoltan Kemeny
• Inventors: Kemeny, Zoltan
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/167.300
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/023 and comprising rolling elements, e.g. balls, pins
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/0237 Structural braces with damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/028 Earthquake withstanding shelters

Abstract

An access floor assembly includes a base floor, a substructure mounted to the base floor, a bearing plate, formed with a first cavity, mounted to the substructure and disposed apart from the base floor, an isolator plate, formed with a second cavity, overlying the bearing plate, a ball disposed between the bearing plate and the isolator plate contacting the first and second cavities, and a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a base floor;

an isolator plate overlying the base floor; and

a ball disposed between and contacting the base floor and the isolator plate.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a frame coupled to the isolator plate and capable of receiving and supporting a floor plate.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a frame coupled to the isolator plate; and

a floor plate supported by the frame.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a retainer mounted to the base floor underlying the isolator plate retaining the ball relative to the base floor.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the retainer comprises a body having an opening formed therein, and the ball located at the opening retaining the ball relative to the base floor and locating the ball relative to the isolator plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the retainer is constructed of compliant material providing damping between the ball and the retainer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a concave cavity formed into the isolator plate; and

the ball contacting the concave cavity formed into the isolator plate.

9. Apparatus, comprising:

a base floor;

a bearing plate coupled to the base floor;

an isolator plate overlying the bearing plate;

a ball disposed between and contacting the bearing plate and the isolator plate;

a first access floor component coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor structure disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor;

a structure spaced from the access floor structure; and

an expansion joint plate coupled between the structure and the access floor structure, whereby the access floor structure is capable of displacing relative to the expansion joint plate.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the expansion joint plate includes a first end disposed adjacent to the structure and a second end positioned atop the access floor structure.

11. Apparatus according of claim 10, wherein the first end of the expansion joint plate is hinged permitting pivotal displacement of the expansion joint plate.

12. Apparatus according of claim 10, wherein the first end of the expansion joint plate is mounted for movement in reciprocal directions permitting reciprocal displacement of the expansion joint plate.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a substructure mounted to the base floor; and

the bearing plate mounted to the substructure and disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the substructure comprises at least one upstanding pedestal having an end coupled to the base floor and an opposing end coupled to the bearing plate.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pedestal is adjustable between shortened and lengthened conditions.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a brace coupled between the pedestal and the base floor providing lateral stability and lateral bracing between the pedestal and the base floor.

17. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a restorer coupled between the isolator plate and the base floor.

18. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a damper coupled between the isolator plate and the structure.

19. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a first cavity formed into the bearing plate;

a second cavity formed into the isolator plate;

the first cavity confronting the second cavity; and

the ball contacting first and second cavities.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first cavity is concave.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the second cavity is concave.

22. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the structure is a wall.

23. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the structure is a floor.

24. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the structure is a non-isolated access floor.

25. Apparatus, comprising:

a base floor;

an isolator plate seismically isolated over the base floor, the isolator plate coupled to an access floor structure incorporating at least one floor plate.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a ramp coupled between the access floor structure and the base floor.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a ball coupled between the isolator plate and the base floor seismically isolating the isolator plate relative to the base floor.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a bearing plate coupled to the base floor;

the isolator plate overlying the bearing plate; and

a ball disposed between and contacting the bearing plate and the isolator plate seismically isolating the isolator plate relative to the base floor.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising:

a first concave cavity formed into the bearing plate;

a second concave cavity formed into the isolator plate; and

further comprising the ball contacting the first and second concave cavities.

30. Apparatus, comprising:

a base floor;

a bearing frame, coupled between opposed bearing plates, coupled to the base floor;

an isolator frame coupled between opposed isolator plates each overlying one of the bearing plates; and

balls each disposed between and contacting one of the bearing plates and one of the opposed isolator plates.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising:

a substructure mounted to the base floor; and

the bearing frame mounted to the substructure and disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the substructure comprises at least one upstanding pedestal having an end coupled to the base floor and an opposing end coupled to the bearing frame.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the pedestal is adjustable between shortened and lengthened conditions.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a floor plate supported by the isolator frame.

35. Apparatus, comprising:

a base floor;

an isolator plate seismically isolated over the base floor, the isolator plate coupled to at least one floor plate forming an isolator floor; and

a pedestal coupled between the at least one floor plate and an access floor structure, the pedestal maintaining the access floor structure at an elevated location relative to the isolator floor forming a space between the access floor structure and the isolator floor.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising utilities maintained in the space for servicing equipment and fixture supported by the access floor structure.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the utilities are mounted to the isolator floor.

38. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a ball coupled between the isolator plate and the base floor seismically isolating the isolator plate relative to the base floor.

39. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

a bearing plate coupled to the base floor;

the isolator plate overlying the bearing plate; and

a ball disposed between and contacting the bearing plate and the isolator plate seismically isolating the isolator plate relative to the base floor.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising:

a first concave cavity formed into the bearing plate;

a second concave cavity formed into the isolator plate; and

further comprising the ball contacting the first and second concave cavities.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising at least one framing component coupled to the bearing plate.

42. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

a structure spaced from the isolator floor; and

a damper coupled between the isolator floor and the structure.