Modular combination floor support and electrical isolation system for use in building structures and method of protectively encasing electrical conductors

Claim 2

A combination working area floor structure and conductor support and isolator assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of vertically extending floor support column units each having upper and lower end portions and an intermediate column section, a working area floor positioned by and disposed in overlying relation to said upper ends of said column support units; means on at least one intermediate portion of said support columns for positioning and supporting at least one conductor-support floor, said conductor support floor being disposed beneath and spaced apart from said working area floor, a plurality of vertically extending imperforate wall panels extending between portions of said conductor support floor and said working area floor so as to subdivide the region above said conductor support floor and below said working area floor into a mechanically isolated conductor plenum adapted to receive and support insulated electrical conductors, and to afford mechanical isolation therefor, said plenum also including at least one upwardly extending opening in said working area floor through which said conductors may pass for attachment to an apparatus supported in said working area floor, with said wall panels also defining a mechanically isolated, vertically extending passage extending from beneath said conductor support floor through said isolated plenum and to said working area floor, with said working area floor lying above said vertically extending passage also including openings therein to afford communication to the area above said working area floor.

Claim 3

A combination floor structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor support floor comprises at least two conductor support floors.

Claim 4

A combination floor structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one conductor support floor comprises at least two conductor support floors with each of said conductor support floors including said plurality of vertically extending wall panels such that said plenum includes at least one upwardly extending opening in said working area floor and wherein the vertically extending portion of said plenum passes through all of the floors disposed thereabove.

Claim 5

A combination floor structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said vertically extending passages extending from beneath said conductor support floor to said working area floor is adapted for the circulation of air which is isolated by both said vertical wall panels and said floor panels from a plenum defined in part by said conductor support floor.

Claim 6

A combination work area support floor and conduit protection assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending support columns having their lower end portions adapted to be supportingly received on a building floor structure, with each of said columns also including an uppermost bracket for receiving and positioning at least portions of working floor panels, a lower floor support bracket adapted to engage and support at least portions of a lower floor forming panels and at least one intermediate floor support bracket being adapted to engage and support portions of intermediate floor-forming panels, said work area support floor comprising a plurality of imperforate panels extending between and supported by said brackets on said individual columns, with at least some of said working area floor panels being apertured so as to provide a path of communication between the area above said working area floor and the area beneath said working area floor, a plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form an intermediate floor structure, and an additional plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form a lower support floor, with a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between said working area floor and at least one each of said intermediate and lower floors so as to provide at least one vertical passage extending through and being mechanically isolated from the plenum formed between said intermediate floor and said working floor area, and the plenum between said working area floor and said lowermost support floor to provide passages from the area beneath said lower floor to the area above said working area floor, thereby providing plural plenums for supporting electrical conductors or the like, and for permitting the passage of ventilating air, all of. said plenums being separated from one another by imperforate panels and each providing access to itself from an area outside said structure on the one hand and to the area above said work area support floor on the other hand.

Claim 7

A combination work area support floor and conduit protection assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending support columns having their lower end portions adapted to be supportingly received on a building floor structure, with each of said columns also including an uppermost bracket for receiving and positioning at least portions of working floor panels, a lower floor support bracket adapted to engage and support at least portions of a lower floor forming panels and at least one intermediate floor support bracket being adapted to engage and support portions of intermediate floor-forming panels, said work area support floor comprising a plurality of imperforate panels extending between and supported by said brackets on said individual columns, with at least some of said working area floor panels being apertured so as to provide a path of communication between the area above said working area floor and the area beneath said working area floor, a plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form an intermediate floor structure, and an additional plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form a lower support floor, with a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between said working area floor and at least one each of said intermediate and lower floors so as to provide at least one vertical passage extending through and being mechanically isolated from the plenum formed between said intermediate floor and said working floor area, and the plenum between said working area floor and said lowermost support floor to provide passages from the area beneath said lower floor to the area above said working area floor, thereby providing plural plenums for supporting electrical conductors or the like, and for permitting the passage of ventilating air, all of. said plenums being separated from one another by imperforate panels and each providing access to itself from an area outside said structure on the one hand and to the area above said work area support floor on the other hand.

Claim 8

A modual three-dimensional support structure adapted to be positioned atop and be supported by a building floor, includes a working floor adapted to support a machine or the like, at least first and second sub-floors disposed in underlying relation to said work floor and being vertically spaced apart from each other and spaced upwardly apart from said building floor structure, said structure comprising a grid system including a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending columns arranged in a regular pattern along two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, a plurality of brackets disposed on each of said columns, said plurality comprising a plurality of upper brackets affixed to the respective upper ends of said columns, said brackets lying in a first plane and being connected to one another by working floor support stringers, a plurality of first sub-floor brackets disposed respectively on said individual columns and lying in a single plane parallel to the plane of said working floor, with said brackets having attached thereto a plurality of first sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, and a plurality of second sub-floor brackets each associated with one of said columns and being arranged in coplanar relation with one another and lying in a plane spaced vertically apart from the plane of said work floor and first sub-floor, with said second sub-floor brackets having attached thereto a plurality of second sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, a plurality of floor panels associated with said upper brackets to form a working floor area, said plurality of working floor panels including imperforate panels and panels permitting passage of air and of electrical conductors therethrough, a plurality of first and second sub-floor panels received in said stringers and forming first and second sub-floors, and a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between vertically spaced panel supports so as to form vertical walls within said structure and so as to define, in part, plural isolated passages lying beneath saide work floor, with portions of said passages being adapted to support electrical conductors thereon and other portions being adapted to direct air therethrough for ventilation.

Claim 9

A modual three-dimensional support structure adapted to be positioned atop and be supported by a building floor, includes a working floor adapted to support a machine or the like, at least first and second sub-floors disposed in underlying relation to said work floor and being vertically spaced apart from each other and spaced upwardly apart from said building floor structure, said structure comprising a grid system including a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending columns arranged in a regular pattern along two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, a plurality of brackets disposed on each of said columns, said plurality comprising a plurality of upper brackets affixed to the respective upper ends of said columns, said brackets lying in a first plane and being connected to one another by working floor support stringers, a plurality of first sub-floor brackets disposed respectively on said individual columns and lying in a single plane parallel to the plane of said working floor, with said brackets having attached thereto a plurality of first sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, and a plurality of second sub-floor brackets each associated with one of said columns and being arranged in coplanar relation with one another and lying in a plane spaced vertically apart from the plane of said work floor and first sub-floor, with said second sub-floor brackets having attached thereto a plurality of second sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, a plurality of floor panels associated with said upper brackets to form a working floor area, said plurality of working floor panels including imperforate panels and panels permitting passage of air and of electrical conductors therethrough, a plurality of first and second sub-floor panels received in said stringers and forming first and second sub-floors, and a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between vertically spaced panel supports so as to form vertical walls within said structure and so as to define, in part, plural isolated passages lying beneath saide work floor, with portions of said passages being adapted to support electrical conductors thereon and other portions being adapted to direct air therethrough for ventilation.