Patent Publication Number: US-7716881-B2

Title: Shock suppressor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a shock suppressor for a structure or sensitive equipment, and more particularly to a shock suppressor that can dissipate seismic shock energy efficiently. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   In recent years, the trend for constructing taller and taller buildings has gathered pace. However, the effect of ground motions is a very important factor to be considered in the design of a high building or a skyscraper, from micro-vibrations to catastrophic earthquakes, such as in USA, Taiwan or Japan. Therefore, shock reduction is very important aspect in the construction of a structure or a skyscraper. 
   In addition, to protect cultural or historical relics, industrial precision instruments, etc, a shock suppressing device is needed. 
   To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a shock suppressor to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The main objective of the invention is to provide a shock suppressor that can reduce or isolate the transmission of a shock efficiently. The shock suppressor has an upper base, a lower base and a connecting device. The upper base has a lower and a top channel defined in the lower along a first direction. The lower base corresponds to the upper base and has a top and a lower channel defined in the top along a second direction corresponding to the first direction of the top channel at an angle. The connecting device is slidably mounted in the top channel and the lower channel. 
   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view in partial cross section of a first embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side plan view of the first embodiment of the shock suppressor in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side plan view of a second embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side plan view of a third embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side plan view of a fourth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side plan view of a fifth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side plan view of a sixth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view in partial cross section of a seventh embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a shock suppressor ( 10 ) in accordance with the present invention comprises an upper base ( 11 A), a lower base ( 12 A), a connecting device ( 20 ) and an optional shock suppressing element ( 13 ). The upper base ( 11 A) has a bottom ( 115 ) and an upper channel ( 111 A) defined in the bottom ( 115 ) along a first direction, wherein the upper base ( 11 A) is adapted to be attached to an object, such as a building ( 30 ). The upper channel ( 111 A) has an arcuate face ( 112 A) and two walls ( 113 ) perpendicular to the arcuate face ( 112 A). 
   The lower base ( 12 A) corresponds to the upper base ( 11 A) and is adapted to be attached to the ground ( 31 ). The lower base ( 12 A) has a top ( 125 ) and a lower channel ( 121 A) defined in the top ( 125 ) along a second direction corresponding to the first direction of the upper channel ( 111 A) at an angle. In a preferred embodiment, the second direction of the lower channel ( 121 A) is perpendicular or parallel to the first direction of the upper channel ( 111 A) to make the two channels ( 111 A, 121 A) respectively serve as X and Y or X and X coordinate axes. The lower channel ( 121 A) has an arcuate surface ( 122 A) and two walls ( 123 ) perpendicular to the arcuate surface ( 122 A) of the lower channel ( 121 A). 
   The connecting device ( 20 ) is slidably mounted in the upper channel ( 111 A) and the lower channel ( 121 A). The connecting device ( 20 ) comprises an upper slider ( 21 ) and a lower slider ( 22 ). The upper slider ( 21 ) is slidably mounted inside the upper channel ( 111 A) and has a bottom, an arcuate sliding top ( 211 ), two sliding surfaces ( 213 ) and a hemispheric recess ( 212 ). The lower of the upper slider ( 21 ) protrudes out from the upper channel ( 111 A). The arcuate sliding top ( 211 ) slidably abuts with the arcuate face ( 112 A) of the upper channel ( 111 A). The two sliding surfaces ( 213 ) are formed on opposite sides of the upper slider ( 21 ) and slidably abut respectively with the walls ( 113 ) in the upper channel ( 111 A). The hemispheric recess ( 212 ) is defined in the lower of the upper slider ( 21 ). 
   The lower slider ( 22 ) is slidably mounted inside the lower channel ( 121 A). The lower slider ( 22 ) has a top, an arcuate sliding bottom ( 221 ), two sliding surfaces ( 223 ) and a hemispheric protrusion ( 222 ). The top of the lower slider ( 22 ) protrudes from the lower channel ( 121 A) and abuts with the lower of the upper slider ( 21 ). The arcuate sliding lower ( 221 ) slidably abuts with the arcuate surface ( 122 A) of the lower channel ( 121 A). The sliding surfaces ( 223 ) are formed on opposite sides of the lower slider ( 22 ) and slidably abut respectively with the walls ( 123 ) in the lower channel ( 121 A). The hemispheric protrusion ( 222 ) is formed on the top of the lower slider ( 22 ) and is rotatably received in the hemispheric recess ( 212 ) in the upper slider ( 21 ). The positions of the upper slider ( 21 ) and the lower slider ( 22 ) can exchange each other. 
   The shock suppressing element ( 13 ) is mounted on one of the upper base ( 11 A), the lower base ( 12 A) and the connecting device ( 20 ). In the first embodiment, the shock suppressing element ( 13 ) comprises a top coating layer ( 131 ) attached to the top of the upper base ( 11 A) and a bottom coating layer ( 132 ) attached to the bottom of the lower base ( 12 A). With reference to  FIG. 3 , the shock suppressing element ( 13 ′) further comprises an upper channel coating layer ( 133 ) attached to the arcuate face ( 112 A) of the upper channel ( 111 A) and a lower channel coating layer ( 134 ) attached to the arcuate surface ( 122 A) of the lower channel ( 121 A). 
   In such an arrangement, with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the lower base ( 12 A) will move with the ground ( 31 ) when an earthquake occurs. The upper slider ( 21 ) and the lower slider ( 22 ) of the connecting device ( 20 ) will move respectively along the upper and lower channels ( 111 A, 121 A) with shock along the first and second directions to keep the upper base ( 11 A) from movement. Consequently, the shocks along the first and second directions can be reduced and dissipated. Furthermore, with the engagement between the hemispheric recess ( 212 ) and protrusion ( 222 ) on the sliders ( 21 , 22 ), shock along other direction beside the first and second directions can also be efficiently reduced. Accordingly, a horizontal shock with multiple directions can be efficiently reduced or dissipated so that the shock will not be transmitted to the building ( 30 ) supported on the shock suppressor ( 10 ). In addition, with the arrangement of the shock suppressing element ( 13 , 13 ′), vertical shock can also be efficiently suppressed. 
   When the shock has stopped, the arcuate abutment between the sliders ( 21 , 22 ) and the arcuate face and surface ( 112 A, 122 A) of the channels ( 111 A, 121 A) will automatically move the sliders ( 21 , 22 ) to an original position due to the weight of the elements and the supported object, such that the shock suppressor ( 10 ) has an automatic return positioning effect to an original status. 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , in a third embodiment, the upper slider ( 21 A) of the connecting device ( 20 A) has a hemispheric protrusion ( 212 A) formed on the bottom of the upper slider ( 21 A). The lower slider ( 22 A) of the connecting device ( 20 A) has a hemispheric recess ( 222 A) defined in the top of the lower slider ( 22 A) and rotatably receiving the hemispheric protrusion ( 212 A) on the upper slider ( 21 A). The connecting device ( 20 A) further comprises multiple first rotating elements ( 23 , 232 ) mounted between the upper slider ( 21 A) and the upper channel ( 111 A) and between the lower slider ( 22 A) and the lower channel ( 121 A). The shock suppressing element ( 13 A) comprises multiple coating layers ( 136 ) attached to the first rotating elements ( 23 , 232 ). In a preferred mbodiment, each first rotating element ( 23 , 232 ) is a roller ( 23 ) or a ball ( 232 ). 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , in a fourth embodiment, the upper slider ( 21 B) of the connecting device ( 20 B) is integrally combined with the lower slider ( 22 B). 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , in a fifth embodiment, the upper slider ( 21 C) of the connecting device ( 20 C) has a recess ( 214 ) defined in the lower of the upper slider ( 21 C). The lower slider ( 22 C) has a recess ( 224 ) defined in the top of the lower slider ( 22 C) and corresponding to the recess ( 214 ) in the upper slider ( 21 C). The connecting device ( 20 C) further has at least one second rotating element ( 24 ) rotatably mounted inside the recesses ( 214 , 224 ) in the upper and lower sliders ( 21 C, 22 C). In a preferred embodiment, one second rotating element ( 24 ) is rotatably mounted inside the recesses ( 214 , 224 ) and is a ball. The shock suppressing element ( 13 C) is at least one coating layer ( 137 ) attached to the at least one second rotating element ( 24 ). 
   With reference to  FIG. 7 , in a sixth embodiment, the upper slider ( 21 D) of the connecting device ( 20 D) has a recess ( 214 D) defined in the bottom of the upper slider ( 21 D). The lower slider ( 22 D) has a recess ( 224 D) defined in the top of the lower slider ( 22 D) and corresponding to the recess ( 214 D) in the upper slider ( 21 D). The connecting device ( 20 D) further has multiple first rotating elements ( 23 D, 232 D) and at least one second rotating element ( 24 D). The first rotating elements ( 23 D, 232 D) are mounted between the upper slider ( 21 D) and the upper channel ( 111 A) and between the lower slider ( 22 D) and the lower channel ( 121 A). In a preferred embodiment, each first rotating element ( 23 D, 232 D) is a roller ( 23 D) or a ball ( 232 D). The at least one second rotating element ( 24 D) is rotatably mounted inside the recesses ( 214 D, 224 D) in the upper and lower sliders ( 21 D, 22 D). The shock suppressing element ( 13 D) comprises multiple coating layers ( 136 D, 137 D) attached to the first and second rotating elements ( 23 D, 232 D, 24 D). 
   With reference to  FIG. 8 , in a seventh embodiment, the upper base ( 11 B) comprises a top plate ( 14 A), an upper block ( 15 A) and two upper side blocks ( 16 A, 17 A). The top plate ( 14 A) has a top and a bottom. The upper block ( 15 A) is attached to the bottom of the top plate ( 14 A) and has an arcuate face ( 112 B). The upper side blocks ( 16 A, 17 A) are attached to the bottom of the top plate ( 14 A) at two sides of the upper block ( 15 A) to define the upper channel ( 111 B) between the arcuate face ( 112 B) of the upper block ( 15 A) and the upper side blocks ( 16 A, 17 A) 
   The lower base ( 12 B) comprises a lower plate ( 14 B), a lower block ( 15 B) and two lower side blocks ( 16 B, 17 B). The bottom plate ( 14 B) has a top and a bottom. The lower block ( 15 B) is attached to the top of the bottom plate ( 14 B) and has an arcuate top ( 122 B). The lower side blocks ( 16 B, 17 B) are attached to the top of the bottom plate ( 14 B) at two sides of the lower block ( 15 B) to define the lower channel ( 121 B) between the arcuate top ( 122 B) of the lower block ( 15 B) and the lower side blocks ( 16 B, 17 B). 
   The connecting device ( 20 ) comprises an upper slider ( 21 ) and a lower slider ( 22 ) and is same as the first embodiment, such that the detail of the connecting device ( 20 ) is omitted. The shock suppressing element ( 13 E) comprises a top coating layer ( 131 E) attached to the top of the top plate ( 14 A) and a lower coating layer ( 132 E) attached to the lower of the lower plate ( 14 B). 
   With such a shock suppressor ( 10 ) in accordance with the present invention, shock energy transmitted in multiple directions can be dissipated efficiently. 
   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.