Earthquake shock resistance system

Abstract

Floating platform used as a base for any kind of structures to protect the structures from earthquake shock damages.

Description

This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/599,820 filed on Aug. 9, 2004.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF MY INVENTION

This system works based on:

• • 1—Archimedes' Principle.
  • 2—Velocity changes in liquids with high density.
  • 3—Unity of the shocking object.

The main point in this design is establishing a system that separates the direct connection between the structure and the earth. By using this system, the structure can be made in any way and from any materials, sizes and weight. This system concentrates on the base platform, as one single unit, for any construction. This platform is floated in a high-density liquid. Several cylinders filed with a gas, lighter than air, are attached to the bottom of that base platform. These numerous cylinders are floating in a high-density liquid poured inside the concave elastic bowl units.

DRAWINGS DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1:

Shows the top view of the whole design, giving the general introduction to the different part of this system. However the overall size and the quantity of the unit cells, (the concave elastic shells and the contents), may vary base on the size and/or the weight of the structure which is supposed to be built over the “base platform”.

FIG. 2:

Presents the elevation of the whole system.

FIG. 3:

Presents the section view of the whole system and how it is put together. The reinforced concrete concave shell will be made same way as making a swimming pool. Then it filled with fine sands. The “elastic concave shells” as shown t in the section view are placed and buried inside the sands. The “elastic concave shells” are filled with high-density liquid. Metal cylinders filled with a gas lighter than air have square metal top plate with four holes at four corners.

FIG. 4:

Shows the top view of one unit cell. The concave elastic shell, the high density liquid and the cylinder shows more clearly and closely.

FIG. 5:

Shows the elevation of one unit cell. The concave elastic shell, the high density liquid and the cylinder shows more clearly and closely

FIG. 6:

Shows the section view of one unit cell. The concave elastic shell, the high density liquid and the cylinder shows more clearly and closely.

FIG. 7:

It shows how the cylinders are screwed and attached to the bottom of the base platform. Four screws attach the cylinders, through the four holes at four corner of the square top of the cylinder.

Claims

1- A structure, house, high-rise or bridge is builds over a base platform and attached to it The base platform is floated in a high -density liquid so that the earthquake shocks, vertical and/or horizontal, could not hurt the structure.

2- A round concave shell, similar to a swimming pool construction, made of reinforced concrete is built/placed over undisturbed earth. The dimension and the depth of this shell will be relevant to the dimension and the weight of the structure that is going to be built over the floating platform.

3- The concave concrete shell is filled with fine sands.

4- The numerous units of concave elastic bowls (same material as car tires) are placed in the said above sands in a way that the whole elastic bowl, except the last 3″ top edge, is buried in the sands. This elastic shell bowl is filled with a high-density liquid. Mixing different material can produce the high-density liquid.

5- One metal cylinder is floated inside each elastic bowl. These metal cylinders are filled with a kind of gas lighter than air (can be determined by experiment). These cylinders are attached to the bottom of the base platform. This system works based on the same principal as ships floating in the water. At the time of earthquake shock, due to the high-density liquid, the sharp movement, in any direction, transformed to slow and soft motion, which eventually transfers this moves to the cylinders that are holding the base platform floated. So the whole structure will moves back and forth and up and down but with very smooth and slow motion. The elastic material works as extra shock absorber when the cylinders hit them. By using this system, the structure, which is attached and built over the base platform, will move back and forth, up and down with slow motion.