Abstract: A laminated hollow rubber damper with increased buckling strength and lengthened period of vibration. The buckling strength of a hollow laminated rubber damper is increased by making at least the inside or the outside wall of the damper of non-uniform section, such as obtained with an arcuately concave wall. By taking advantage of the improved buckling strength of hollow laminated rubber dampers, both the deformability in a horizontal direction and the period of the damper are increased. The hollow laminated rubber damper may be used as a spring element in an active or passive type vibration control device, or as a supporting device suitable for the protection of structures having long natural periods, such as multi-storied buildings.

Abstract: A device to protect tall buildings from structural damage due to seismic vibration and/or high winds. The device comprises a first mass equal to about 1/500 to 1/1000 of the weight of the building to be protected. The first mass, provided with an upper arcuately concave surface with matching curved tracks, is horizontally secured on rubber dampers to an appropriate portion of the building, such as the roof or an upper floor. A second mass, equal to about 1/20 to 1/100 of the weight of the first mass, is positioned to oscillate on the curved tracks in synchronization with the natural frequency of the building, whereby the response of the building due to seismic vibration or high winds is attenuated. The curved tracks can function as the stator of a linear motor and the second mass can function as the motor driver.

Abstract: A seismic vibration control device for structures which employs a combination of primary and secondary vibratable masses to attenuate the vibration of a structure. The primary vibratable mass is passive and is supported on the structure. One or more active secondary vibratable masses are supported on the primary mass. Control forces are selectively applied to the secondary masses to control the period of the primary mass in a manner which is most effective to attenuate the seismic vibration of the structure.

Abstract: A vibration control device of an active type for a structure comprising a first additional mass body movable relative to the structure; spring means for giving a period to the additional mass body which synchronizes with the natural period of the structure; a second additional mass body supported by and movable relative to the first additional mass body; and drive means for applying a control force between the first and second additional mass bodies in response to a sensed vibrations of an earthquake or the like. Laminated rubber support provides main spring means for synchronizing with the assumed natural period of the structure. Auxiliary spring means, such as laminated rubber or coil springs, is separately provided for fine tuning the period of the device. The responses from the structure are reduced by adjusting the difference between the assumed and actual natural periods of the structure by use of the auxiliary spring means and by providing the control force from the drive means.

Abstract: A plurality of laminated rubber or rubber-like elastoplastic ring-configured pads vertically stacked and secured together to provide seismic damping for a building structure. The laminated pads include ring-like steel plates or solid disk-like steel plates to form one laminated stage of a multi-stage seismic damping device. A plurality of damping devices are used to support a vibratable mass on a building structure. The combination of stacked ring-configured elastoplastic pads and steel plates provides a damping device having a high lateral deformation capacity with a long period and high resistance to buckling. The damping device is suitable for protecting building structures having long natural periods, such as multi-storied buildings.

Abstract: A safety monitoring device is provided for the use in an active seismic response and wind control system for exerting a control force, which restrains the vibration of a structure due to disturbances such as earthquake and wind, from an actuator in response to the above vibration. The safety monitoring device measures the work done of a seismic response control force and judges the work done of the seismic response control force to be positive or negative, so that whether or not the seismic response control is properly carried out by the actuator is judged. If any abnormality is found, a stop signal or the like is generated to stop the seismic response and wind control system, whereby the safety of the structure is ensured.

Abstract: A safety monitoring device is provided for the use in an active seismic response and wind control system for exerting a control force, which restrains the vibration of a structure due to disturbances such as earthquake and wind, from an actuator in response to the above vibration. The safety monitoring device measures the work done of a seismic response control force and judges the work done of the seismic response control force to be positive or negative, so that whether or not the seismic response control is properly carried out by the actuator is judged. If any abnormality is found, a stop signal or the like is generated to stop the seismic response and wind control system, whereby the safety of the structure is ensured.