US20180238570A1 - Truss Air Manifold Assembly for Underground Disaster Shelters - Google Patents
Truss Air Manifold Assembly for Underground Disaster Shelters Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20180238570A1 US20180238570A1 US15/894,419 US201815894419A US2018238570A1 US 20180238570 A1 US20180238570 A1 US 20180238570A1 US 201815894419 A US201815894419 A US 201815894419A US 2018238570 A1 US2018238570 A1 US 2018238570A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ventilation pipe
- tubular portion
- tank
- head
- annular
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F7/00—Ventilation
- F24F7/04—Ventilation with ducting systems, e.g. by double walls; with natural circulation
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H9/00—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate
- E04H9/04—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate against air-raid or other war-like actions
- E04H9/10—Independent shelters; Arrangement of independent splinter-proof walls
- E04H9/12—Independent shelters; Arrangement of independent splinter-proof walls entirely underneath the level of the ground, e.g. air-raid galleries
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/28—Arrangement or mounting of filters
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
- F24F2221/44—Protection from terrorism or theft
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
- F24F2221/52—Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow
Abstract
An air manifold assembly for underground shelters which is capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The air manifold assembly includes a ventilation pipe, a tank-head-shaped dome, an annular plate, and a plurality of holes. A top end of the ventilation pipe is concentrically positioned within the annular plate. The annular plate is laterally connected about the ventilation pipe and joins the ventilation pipe to the tank-head-shaped dome. The tank-head-shaped dome protects and prevents the clogging and damage of the ventilation pipe. The tank-head-shaped dome is positioned adjacent to the top end of the ventilation pipe and is perimetrically connected to the annular plate. The plurality of holes exposes the ventilation pipe to the external atmosphere. The plurality of holes is radially distributed about the annular plate with each hole normally traversing through the annular plate. Opposite the tank-head-shaped dome, the ventilation pipe is connected to the underground shelter.
Description
- The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/460,286 filed on Feb. 17, 2017.
- The present invention relates generally to an apparatus in the field of underground disaster shelters. More specifically, the present invention is a truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters which is capable of withstanding high winds, H20 truck axle loads, and impacts from loose debris. The name Truss comes from the shape of a truss screw head.
- Underground shelters need a method of intaking fresh air and exhaust spent air from the underground shelter. The conventional solution is a gooseneck air duct with a cap. This design is vulnerable to flying debris, which can bend or shear the air pipe of the duct off at the ground level, closing the air connection for the underground shelter. As a result, the air manifold at ground level represents the most vulnerable part of an underground shelter. The air manifold is also subject to vehicles such as farm tractors or trucks running over it and is also vulnerable to intruder assaults that aim to cut off the air supply to people within the underground shelter, thus forcing them out of the underground shelter. Negative pressure from a nuclear blast or from ground zero of an F5 tornado can also suck air manifolds out of the ground, severing the connection of fresh air to the people within the underground shelter.
- The present invention has significant and unobvious improvements over all of the previous designs and conventional solutions. The present invention is aerodynamically smooth to resist damage from heavy flying debris with an angle of incidence of less than 15 degrees. Under section 305.2.1 of the ICC 500 code for commercial tornado shelters, this type of air manifold is below the 30-degree threshold angle of incidence and therefore considered a horizontal surface and is exempt from testing from flying missile debris. There is just not enough area exposed and not a high enough angle of incidence to result in any significant damage to interfere with its intended function. The present invention looks to introduce an apparatus in the field of underground disaster shelters with pre-assembled structures designed to provide life support in extremely high winds, vehicle axles loads as H20 loading which is a 32,000 pound axle load or a 16,000 pound wheel load, with flying debris.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a broken-out sectional cut of the present invention in a partially exploded view. -
FIG. 3 is a side-view of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional cut view of the present invention. - All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
- The present invention relates generally to an apparatus in the field of underground disaster shelters. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus in the field of underground disaster shelters with pre-assembled structures designed to provide life support in extremely high winds with flying debris.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , the present invention comprises aventilation pipe 1, a tank-head-shaped dome 7, anannular plate 10, a plurality ofholes 11, and a plurality offilters 15. Theventilation pipe 1 is an elongated tubular structure puts the internal space of anunderground disaster shelter 16 in fluid communication with the external environment above the ground. Resultantly, this provides theunderground disaster shelter 16 with a means of intaking fresh air and exhausting spent air. The tank-head-shaped dome 7 covers and protects atop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1, wherein thetop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1 traverses through the ground and is exposed to external environmental aspects. The tank-head-shaped dome 7 is the top apex portion of a dome with a low profile. Similar to traditional designs, the tank-head-shaped dome 7 provides an initial barrier to theventilation pipe 1 to protect theventilation pipe 1 and prevent debris, large clumps of dirt, and other environmental factors from clogging up or obstructing theventilation pipe 1. The tank-head-shaped dome 7 is positioned adjacent to thetop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1 and is connected to theventilation pipe 1 by theannular plate 10. More specifically, theannular plate 10 is a disk-shaped structural element which connects and supports the tank-head-shaped dome 7 to theventilation pipe 1. Referring toFIG. 2 , atop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1 is concentrically positioned within theannular plate 10. For this, a central hole of theannular plate 10 is sized to the outer diameter of theventilation pipe 1. Additionally, theannular plate 10 is laterally connected about theventilation pipe 1. The tank-head-shaped dome 7 is positioned adjacent to the top end of the ventilations pipe with theventilation pipe 1 being positioned within aconcave portion 8 of the tank-head-shaped dome 7. The tank-head-shaped dome 7 is perimetrically connected to theannular plate 10. Resultantly, the tank-head-shaped dome 7 provides all around protection for theventilation pipe 1. Additionally, this configuration positions thetop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1 just shy, about one inch short, of reaching a bottom surface of the tank-head-shaped dome 7 to allow air entering theventilation pipe 1 to have a torturous path. - The plurality of
holes 11 exposes theventilation pipe 1 to the external environment around the tank-head-shaped dome 7. The plurality ofholes 11 is radially distributed about theannular plate 10 with each of the plurality ofholes 11 normally traversing through theannular plate 10. In one embodiment, the present invention further comprises a plurality offilters 15 which filter the air entering theventilation pipe 1 through the plurality ofholes 11. More specifically, each of the plurality offilters 15 is an insect screen which prevents insects and debris from entering theventilation pipe 1. Although, in alternative embodiments, other types of filters may be used for each of the plurality offilters 15 to improve the air quality entering theventilation pipe 1. Each of the plurality offilters 15 is sized complimentary to the each of the plurality ofholes 11. More specifically, the plurality offilters 15 is radially distributed about theannular plate 10. Additionally, each of the plurality offilters 15 is connected to theannular plate 10 within a corresponding hole from the plurality ofholes 11. - Referring to
FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the present invention further comprises aninternal tube 12 to prevent any type of flammable fluids from being pumped into theventilation pipe 1 and ignited to force the residents out of theunderground disaster shelter 16. In other words, theinternal tube 12 creates a barrier directly around thetop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1. Theinternal tube 12 is sized with an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of theventilation pipe 1. Theinternal tube 12 is positioned within theconcave portion 8 of the tank-head-shaped dome 7 with thetop end 2 of theventilation pipe 1 concentrically traversing into theinternal tube 12. Resultantly, theventilation pipe 1 and theinternal tube 12 overlap each other, thus creating a barrier. Theinternal tube 12 is supported in this position by the tank-head-shaped dome 7. More specifically, the tank-head-shaped dome 7 is terminally connected to theinternal tube 12, opposite theventilation pipe 1. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , the tank-head-shaped dome 7 comprises anannular sidewall 9 and theconcave portion 8. Theannular sidewall 9 is sized to the outer diameter of theannular plate 10 and is used to offset the curved dome portion from theannular plate 10. More specifically, theannular sidewall 9 is concentrically positioned within theannular plate 10 and is adjacently connected to theannular plate 10. Theconcave portion 8 serves as a rigid structure that protects theventilation pipe 1. Theconcave portion 8 is positioned adjacent to theannular sidewall 9, opposite theannular plate 10. Additionally, theconcave portion 8 is perimetrically connected to theannular sidewall 9. Theconcave portion 8 reduces the number of the stress point within the tank-head-shaped dome 7, thus allowing the tank-head-shaped dome 7 to withstand high amounts of pressure such as a vehicle driving over the tank-head-shaped dome 7. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an angle ofincidence 19 for the tank-head-shaped dome 7 is less than 15 degrees. Compared to standard regulations for commercial tornado shelters, this type of air manifold is below the 30-degree threshold angle ofincidence 19 and therefore considered a horizontal surface and is exempt from testing from flying missile debris. There is just not enough area exposed and not a high enough angle ofincidence 19 to result in any significant damage. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , theventilation pipe 1 preferably comprises a toptubular portion 4, a middletubular portion 5, and a bottomtubular portion 6. The toptubular portion 4, the middletubular portion 5, and the bottomtubular portion 6 each are an elongated tube with equal diameters. The toptubular portion 4 is positioned adjacent to the tank-head-shapeddome 7 and is positioned at ground level. Additionally, the toptubular portion 4 is terminally connected to the middletubular portion 5. The middletubular portion 5 traverses through the ground and covers the vertical distance between the ground and theunderground disaster shelter 16. In order to reduce the dosage of rems that can pass through theventilation pipe 1, the toptubular portion 4 is positioned at a firstobtuse angle 14 relative to the middletubular portion 5. The bottomtubular portion 6 connects theventilation pipe 1 to theunderground disaster shelter 16 and as such is terminally connected to the middletubular portion 5, opposite the toptubular portion 4. For additional reduction of rems, the bottomtubular portion 6 is also angled relative to the middletubular portion 5. For this, the toptubular portion 4 and the bottomtubular portion 6 are oriented parallel to each other. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the firstobtuse angle 14 is 135 degrees. Furthermore, for the air to flow through theventilation pipe 1, the toptubular portion 4, the middletubular portion 5, and the bottomtubular portion 6 are in fluid communication with each other. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , the present invention is designed to be utilized to provide air access to theunderground disaster shelter 16. To attach and mount to theunderground disaster shelter 16, the present invention further comprises a flexible seismic joint 17 and anannular flange 18. The flexible seismic joint 17 connects theventilation pipe 1 to theunderground disaster shelter 16 and allows the present invention to laterally translate relative to theunderground disaster shelter 16 as much as 2 inches. This is necessary for maintaining structural integrity during rolling ground motion from severe ground shocks. Theannular flange 18 is a lateral lip that is connected to abottom end 3 of theventilation pipe 1 and attaches theventilation pipe 1 to the flexible seismic joint 17. More specifically, theannular flange 18 is laterally connected about thebottom end 3 of theventilation pipe 1. The flexible seismic joint 17 is concentrically connected to thebottom end 3 of theventilation pipe 1 by theannular flange 18. Theunderground disaster shelter 16 is adjacently connected to the flexible seismic joint 17, opposite to theventilation pipe 1. For air to flow to theunderground disaster shelter 16, theventilation pipe 1, the flexible seismic joint 17, and theunderground disaster shelter 16 are in fluid communication with each other. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, theventilation pipe 1 may be mounted to theunderground disaster shelter 16 through alternative methods and mechanisms. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , the present invention may also comprise anannular gravity dish 13. Theannular gravity dish 13 counteracts upward buoyancy forces (62.4 lbs/ft3) that may be created by displaced water and −5 psi force on theconvex dome 7 from a blast or tornado. Without theannular gravity dish 13, the present invention would experience a negative pressure that would stretch the flexible seismic joint 17 and eventually will cause failure in the flexible seismic joint 17, releasing theventilation pipe 1 and possibly causing vertical translation of the present invention away from theunderground disaster shelter 16. Theannular gravity dish 13 is a dome-shaped structure with a central hole. It is preferred that theannular gravity dish 13 is larger than the tank-head-shapeddome 7 to ensure enough counter hydrostatic pressure (70 lbs/ft3 of submerged earth) is created to counter the hydrostatic pressure or buoyancy on the tank-head-shapeddome 7 assembly by a factor of 1.2. Theannular gravity dish 13 is positioned adjacent to thebottom end 3 of theventilation pipe 1. Additionally, theventilation pipe 1 concentrically traverses through theannular gravity dish 13 and is oriented towards the tank-head-shapeddome 7. Furthermore, theannular gravity dish 13 is laterally connected about theventilation pipe 1. - Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims (9)
1. A truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters comprises:
a ventilation pipe;
a tank-head-shaped dome;
an annular plate;
a plurality of holes;
a top end of the ventilation pipe being concentrically positioned within the annular plate;
the annular plate being laterally connected about the ventilation pipe;
the tank-head-shaped dome being positioned adjacent to the top end of the ventilation pipe;
the ventilation pipe being positioned within a concave portion of the tank-head-shaped dome;
the tank-head-shaped dome being perimetrically connected to the annular plate;
the plurality of holes being radially distributed about the annular plate; and
each of the plurality of holes normally traversing through the annular plate.
2. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
an internal tube;
the internal tube being positioned within the concave portion of the tank-head-shaped dome;
the top end of the ventilation pipe concentrically traversing into the internal tube; and
the tank-head-shaped dome being terminally connected to the internal tube, opposite the ventilation pipe.
3. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
an annular gravity dish;
the annular gravity dish being positioned adjacent to a bottom end of the ventilation pipe;
the ventilation pipe concentrically traversing through annular gravity dish;
the annular gravity dish being oriented towards the tank-head-shaped dome; and
the annular gravity dish being laterally connected about the ventilation pipe.
4. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
the ventilation pipe comprises a top tubular portion, a middle tubular portion, and a bottom tubular portion;
the top tubular portion being terminally connected to the middle tubular portion;
the bottom tubular portion being terminally connected to the middle tubular portion, opposite the top tubular portion;
the top tubular portion being positioned at a first obtuse angle relative to the middle tubular portion;
the top tubular portion and the bottom tubular portion being oriented parallel to each other;
the top tubular portion, the middle tubular portion, and the bottom tubular portion being in fluid communication with each other; and
the top tubular portion being positioned adjacent to the tank-head-shaped dome.
5. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first obtuse angle is 135 degrees.
6. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
a plurality of filters;
the plurality of filters being radially distributed about the annular plate; and
each of the plurality of filters being connected to the annular plate within a corresponding hole from the plurality of holes.
7. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
an underground disaster shelter;
a flexible seismic joint;
an annular flange;
the annular flange being laterally connected about a bottom end of the ventilation pipe;
the flexible seismic joint being concentrically connected to a bottom end of the ventilation pipe by the annular flange;
the underground disaster shelter being adjacently connected to the flexible seismic joint, opposite the ventilation pipe; and
the ventilation pipe, the flexible seismic joint, and the underground disaster shelter being in fluid communication with each other.
8. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an angle of incidence for the tank-head-shaped dome being less than 15 degrees.
9. The truss air manifold assembly for underground disaster shelters as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
the tank-head-shaped dome comprises an annular sidewall and the concave portion;
the annular sidewall being concentrically positioned with the annular plate;
the annular sidewall being adjacently connected to the annular plate;
the concave portion being positioned adjacent to the annular sidewall, opposite the annular plate; and
the concave portion being perimetrically connected to the annular sidewall.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/894,419 US20180238570A1 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2018-02-12 | Truss Air Manifold Assembly for Underground Disaster Shelters |
US15/899,627 US20180238045A1 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2018-02-20 | Underground Disaster Shelter |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201762460286P | 2017-02-17 | 2017-02-17 | |
US15/894,419 US20180238570A1 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2018-02-12 | Truss Air Manifold Assembly for Underground Disaster Shelters |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/899,627 Continuation-In-Part US20180238045A1 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2018-02-20 | Underground Disaster Shelter |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20180238570A1 true US20180238570A1 (en) | 2018-08-23 |
Family
ID=63166214
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US15/894,419 Abandoned US20180238570A1 (en) | 2017-02-17 | 2018-02-12 | Truss Air Manifold Assembly for Underground Disaster Shelters |
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US (1) | US20180238570A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20210092116A1 (en) * | 2019-06-04 | 2021-03-25 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Secure access of remote device |
US11481504B2 (en) * | 2019-06-04 | 2022-10-25 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Cloud-based communication system |
US20230291734A1 (en) * | 2020-12-03 | 2023-09-14 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Secure access of remote device |
-
2018
- 2018-02-12 US US15/894,419 patent/US20180238570A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20210092116A1 (en) * | 2019-06-04 | 2021-03-25 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Secure access of remote device |
US11481504B2 (en) * | 2019-06-04 | 2022-10-25 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Cloud-based communication system |
US11695761B2 (en) * | 2019-06-04 | 2023-07-04 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Secure access of remote device |
US20230291734A1 (en) * | 2020-12-03 | 2023-09-14 | ZPE Systems, Inc. | Secure access of remote device |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |