US1651411A - Foundation for earthquakeproof buildings - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1927.

Filed. Sept. 9. 1926 l structure and the said foundation possess-'- i adapted lateral vibrations caused through earth-.

Patented Dec. 6, 927.

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Application filed September a, 1926. seria -nu 134,583.

/ This invention has relation to the construe tion of foundations ofdwelli'n'gs and other buildingsand has in" contemplation more especially means to render the superstructures built orerected thereon immune from dam age or "destruction by earthquake; shocks.

The purposeof my's aid invention and its primary object is the productionof aseparate and detached foundation and a movable connection betweenthe base of the super ing :advantagesin point of effi ciency and durability in that'the said superstru'cture'is permittedmovement andoscillation in all directions bymeansof steel balls located" and ings. v

Another object. of my invention .is to provide spiral, leaf or othersprings locatedsin the space between-the upper surface; of. the foundation slabr'and. the. underside of the superstructure for' the purpose of absorbing quake shocks. I

A further object of my invention is to pro-.

' 'vide the separate and detachedfoundation with a specially shaped slab or blockof reinforced concrete and the location of thistle tached foundation member in a bed of fine sand, ground pumice stone or the like, that can flow to awcertain extent under the effects of oscillation or upheaval.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the IIIVGIItIOIIOOIlSlSlZS n the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and'specified in the claims hereto appended it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, sizes and minor details of construction within the scope of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention,

7 reference is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and of which: a I

Fig. 1- is a sectional elevation illustrating the general arrangement of the foundation for earthquake-proof buildings forming v the subject matterof my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan of the same. Referring more particularly to the several views of the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate correspond to move within saucer-shaped hous-;

ing parts throughout the several views, the.

superstructure base :1 is constructed of renforced concrete or other suitable material and'i's shap'edas shown in Figure 1 or having substantially that configuration. Th e lower outer'su rface of the superstructure baseli is provided with a multiplicity of' saucer-shaped members 2 provided with dove-tailed"or other suitably shaped por:

-tions by means of which. thesaid members 2 are"rigidlyaflixed to the base 1.

These 'saucer shaped members 2 are adapted to accommodate steel balls 4 which are retained in position; by similarly saucer-shaped members 5', located in agialalignment with theCmembers'Q, and whiclrare retained in posltlon'upon the foundation 6 by means of dove-tailed'or'other suitably shaped stems 7 The foundation 6', upon" which the base 1 carryingthe superstructure is adapted to restfc'onsists by preference of a solid block againstthe superstruction base 1. The pur-' pose of these springs is to hold the base 1 a and consequently the superstructurenor-' mally 1n the position shown in Figure 1 and to return, the saine always to this position after any temporary movement of the foundation. a

The fine sand 9, ground pumice stone or other suitable material under the foundation 6 is intended to flow easily under the efiect of oscillation or upheaval and to allow a new layer to be formed to support the boat whenthe same returns to its initial position. The foundation slab-6 will'be constructed as a girder sufficiently strong to Withstand undermining to at least half its area, in orderthat in case of upheaval it may ride upon the bed of line sand in a similar manner as a ship rides upon the waves, without breaking its back. In case the. founda tionsettles unevenly after a disturbance,it

shaped bottom 8 of the said foundation will only be necessary to excavate some sand to allow it to sink again to a true level.

In constructing the foundation the soil is excavated to an extent somewhat larger than the proposed buildin contain the concrete s ab 6 and sand 9. The

excavated part is lined with a concrete or other suitable material wall 12 to form a contillget for the above mentioned fine sand and s a a The central ortion of the superstructure base 1 is closer by means of boards 13 or the like located in such manner thatthe upper surface of the same is substantially level with the upper surface of the said base. The cavities 14, formed between the outer walls 12 and foundations are closed through the medium of boards 15, but the same may also be closed by means of thin steel plates or concrete slabs. These boards are not afiixed in any way so as not to interfere with the movements of the foundations.

The superstructure 1, which is only partially shown in Figure 1, built on foundations such as described hereinbefore and shown in the drawings, may be of wood, corrugated iron, or any other material or constructiomibut a framed structure of fireproof material is preferred, such as forexample those wherein ferro-concrete slabs are and deep enough to bound together by continuous tie-rods forming a box-like structure which may be canted over to any angle without displacing any of its parts. 1 a

Having now particularly described my 1nvention what I claim as new, and, tlesileto secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A foundation, con'iprising an upper block provided with a chamber, a lower bloc-k having a projection arranged in the chamber springs interposed between the projection and the walls of the chamber, and pivot bearings spaced apart and arranged outside the chamber between the upper block and the lower block and permitting the upper block to oscillate in a horizontal plane.

2. A foundation as set forth in claim 1, the said lower bloek having a convex hottom, and having a bed of granular material arranged under its bottom;

3; A foundation as set forth in claim 1, the said lower block having a eonvexbottom. and having a bed of granular material arranged under its bottom, and an outer protecting wall holding the granular material laterally in place and extending upwardly past the pivot bearings andspaced apart from the said upper block;

In witness whereof I aflix no signature.

AMELIA ANNE PORTER.

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