SHOCK-ABSORBING TIE BRACE
A shock-absorbing tie brace has a central member and an outer frame. The central member has two ends and multiple neck portions. Each neck portion has a dimension of cross section smaller than that of the ends to form multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions on the central member. The outer frame is mounted around and encloses the central member. Accordingly, the shock-absorbing tie brace has an excellent capability for bearing buckling load and is not easily bent or buckled.
The present invention is a continuation application of the application Ser. No. 11/037,033, filed on Jan. 17, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing tie brace, and more particularly to a shock-absorbing tie brace used in structures to absorb shock transmitted from the ground or a floor.
2. Description of Related Art
To enhance the strength of a structure, tie braces are mounted at an angle respectively between columns and beams supported by the columns in the structure to stiffen the frame of the structure, and shock-absorbing tie braces also absorb shocks to the structure. However, the conventional shock-absorbing tie brace lacks excellent capability for bearing buckling load, such that the conventional one is easily buckled or bent during an earthquake.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a shock-absorbing tie brace to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main objective of the invention is to provide a shock-absorbing tie brace having excellent capability for bearing buckling load such that it is not easily bent or buckled. The shock-absorbing tie brace has a central member and an outer frame. The central member has two ends and multiple neck portions. Each neck portion has a dimension of cross section smaller than that of the ends to form multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions on the central member. The outer frame is mounted around and encloses the central member.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
Each neck portion (11) has a dimension of cross section smaller than that of the ends to form multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions (11). In a first embodiment, the central member (10) has three neck portions (11) as shown in
Wherein,
Pcr is the capability for bearing buckling load of the central member (10,10′);
E is the Elastic Modulus of the central member (10,10′);
I is the moment of inertia of the central member (10,10′); and
L is the length of the neck portion (11).
Accordingly, Pcr is inverse proportion to the square of the length of the neck portion (11). Therefore, the length of each neck portion (11) is smaller as the sum of the neck portions (11) on a central member (10,10′) becomes greater, such that the Pcr becomes bigger. For example, if the length of the neck portion (11) becomes ½ L, the Pcr becomes:
Consequently, the capability for bearing the buckling load of the central member (10,10′) is enhanced, so that the central member (10,10′) is not easily buckled or bent.
The outer frame (20) is mounted around and encloses the central member (10).
With reference to
The outer frame (20) comprises four tubular elements (21) and four connecting plates (22). The tubular elements (21) respectively correspond to and are held in the spaces around the central member (10). The connecting plates (22) are securely attached respectively to adjacent tubular elements (21), such that the central member (10) is enclosed between the tubular elements (21) and the connecting plates (22). A gap is defined between the central member (10) and each tubular element (21) to allow the deformation of the central member (10), but the outer frame (20) can keep the central member (10) from buckling during the deformation of the central member (10).
In addition, at least one of the ends or the enlarged portions of the central member (10) is securely attached to the outer frame (20) to limit the deformation of the central member (10) to a small range.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The outer frame (43) comprises four tubular connecting elements (430), two connecting plates (431) and two U-shaped connecting elements (432). The tubular connecting elements (430) are arranged respectively on the outer sides of the plates (61). Each connecting plate (431) is mounted between a pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) which are arranged on the outer side of a same plate (61) to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) together. The U-shaped connecting elements (432) are attached to each other, arranged between the inner sides of the plates (61) and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements (430) to respectively enclose the plates (61) in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements (430).
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. A shock-absorbing tie brace comprising:
- a central member having two ends; and multiple neck portions formed between the ends to form multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and
- an outer frame composed of multiple tubular elements mounted around and enclosing the central member.
2. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has two neck portions.
3. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member;
- the tubular elements respectively correspond to and are held in the spaces around the central member; and
- the outer frame further comprises multiple connecting plates securely attached respectively to adjacent tubular elements.
4. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and two L-shaped connecting elements attached to the triangular tubular elements to combine the triangular tubular elements together,
- wherein the triangular tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
5. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four tubular connecting elements mounted respectively in the enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
6. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four L-shaped connecting elements mounted respectively inside the triangular tubular elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
7. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which extend into the spaces in a same one of the T-shaped elements to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the T-shaped elements in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
8. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and
- the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements arranged respectively on the outer sides of the plates; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which are arranged on the outer side of a same plate to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other, arranged between the inner sides of the plates and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the plates in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
9. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the plates; and two connecting plates attached to the tubular elements to combine the tubular elements together,
- wherein the tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
10. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates; and two tubular connecting elements mounted respectively inside the tubular enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces in the plates.
11. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates,
- wherein the tubular enclosing elements are filled with shock reducing material.
12. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the ends of the central member is securely connected to the outer frame.
13. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the enlarged portions of the central member is securely connected to the outer frame.
14. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member; and
- the outer frame comprises four tubular elements respectively corresponding to and held in the spaces around the central member; and four connecting plates securely attached respectively to adjacent tubular elements.
15. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and two L-shaped connecting elements attached to the triangular tubular elements to combine the triangular tubular elements together,
- wherein the triangular tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
16. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four tubular connecting elements mounted respectively in the enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
17. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four L-shaped connecting elements mounted respectively inside the triangular tubular elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
18. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and
- the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which extend into the spaces in a same T-shaped element to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the T-shaped elements in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
19. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and
- the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements arranged respectively on the outer sides of the plates; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which are arranged on the outer side of a same plate to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other, arranged between the inner sides of the plates and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the plates in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
20. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the plates; and two connecting plates attached to the tubular elements to combine the tubular elements together,
- wherein the tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
21. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates; and two tubular connecting elements mounted respectively inside the tubular enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces in the plates.
22. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and
- the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates,
- wherein the tubular enclosing elements is filled with shock reducing material.
23. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ends of the central member is securely connected to the outer frame.
24. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the enlarged portions beside the neck portions of the central member is securely connected to the outer frame.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 28, 2010
Inventor: Chong-Shien Tsai (Taichung)
Application Number: 12/573,045