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US4964246A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rigidity control system for variable rigidity structure

Assignee: Kajima Corp
•
Filing: 1989-03-06
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2009-03-06
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention contemplates a rigidity control system for a variable rigidity structure incorporating variable rigidity elements, such as braces, for making the connecting condition with the frame variable between the locked and unlocked conditions for example, in which the vibration of a structure caused by external vibrational forces of an earthquake, wind or the like is attenuated by varying the rigidity of the structure. The rigidity control of the present invention imitates the tension and relaxation of a muscle in the self-balancing function of a living body. The vibrational condition of a frame is considered to be separately four conditions, i.e., the process of increasing the deformation in one direction, the process of decreasing the deformaton following thereafter, the process of increasing the deformation in the opposite direction and the process of decreasing the deformation following thereafter. Continuous responses are detected by sensors and the structure is set to be in the rigid condition in the deformation increasing process to restrain the excessive deformation of the building frame while the structure is set to be in the resilient condition in the deformation decreasing process to continuously vary the rigidity of the frame, whereby the resonance of the frame with seismic motion or the like is avoided to attenuate the vibration.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takuji Kobori
  • 👤 Hiroo Kanayama
  • 👤 Shuichi Kamagata

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 18:29
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/92; E04B1/98

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A rigidity control system for variable rigidity structures subjected to deformation forces due to vibration comprising vibration detecting means to detect and to signal the deformation of a structure in a first direction, to detect the rate of deformation of a structure in first direction, to detect the deformation of a structure in a second direction, and to detect the rate of deformation of said structure in said second direction; structure rigidity control means, and control means responsive to said signals from said detecting means for generating actuating control signals to said structure rigidity control means to attenuate deformation causing vibrations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 101 words
A rigidity control system for variable rigidity structures subjected to deformation forces due to vibration comprising vibration detecting means to detect and to signal the deformation of a structure in a first direction, to detect the rate of deformation of a structure in first direction, to detect the deformation of a structure in a second direction, and to detect the rate of deformation of said structure in said second direction; structure rigidity control means, and control means responsive to said signals from said detecting means for generating actuating control signals to said structure rigidity control means to attenuate deformation causing vibrations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The rigidity control system of claim 1, wherein said structure rigidity control means are adapted to selectively tension or relieve tension in said variable rigidity structure to attenuate deformation forces due to vibration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The rigidity control system of claim 2 wherein said structure rigidity control means is selectively actuatable to variably resist forces of deformation responsive to the rate of change and direction of said deformation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The rigidity control system of claim 2, wherein said structure rigidity control means comprises pairs of cables, each cable of each pair of cables being adapted to be selectively tensioned or released of tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The rigidity control system of claim 4, wherein when a first cable of a pair of cables is placed in tension, the second cable of said pair of cables is proportionately released of tension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The rigidity control system of claim 4, wherein said structure rigidity control means is selectively actuatable to apply tension to said structure in opposition to said detected forces of deformation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The rigidity control system of claim 4, wherein said structure rigidity control means is selectively actuatable to apply tension to said structure at a rate which is a function of the detected rate of deformation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The rigidity control system of claim 4, wherein said structure rigidity control means is selectively actuatable to release tension in said structure responsive to a detected diminution of said detected forces of deformation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 41 words
The rigidity control system of claim 4, wherein said structure rigidity control means is selectively actuatable to release tension in said structure at a rate which is a function of the detected rate of diminution of said detected forces of deformation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3232012A Cited
US3538653A Cited
US4429496A Cited
JPS60164520A Cited
US4766706A Cited
US4799339A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-10-22 1994-04-23 1994-10-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-10-22 1998-04-23 1998-10-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-10-22 2002-04-23 2002-10-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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