STRUCTURE WITH SUCH SUPPORT

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to an anti-seismic device for load-bearing structures or machines, particularly for automated warehouses, and a load-bearing structure or machine, in particular a warehouse.

There are known anti-seismic devices used in the building industry to secure housing and/or industrial buildings. The design and sizing of such anti-seismic devices depend on the specific construction as well as on the seismic vulnerability of the zone. As a result, in the construction sector anti-seismic devices are designed and sized ad hoc.

This customized approach makes known anti-seismic devices unsuitable for sectors other than the building sector. Additionally, these anti-seismic devices of the known type are not suitable for being applied in the sector of load-bearing structures or machines apt for supporting time-varying loads. Particularly in the case of automated warehouses, the known anti- seismic devices are not applicable, both for economic reasons due to the high costs arising from the need to have a specific design for each automated warehouse, and for technical reasons since the mass of an automated warehouse exhibits a considerable percentage change between the empty condition and the full condition of the warehouse.

It therefore remains substantially still unsatisfied the need to have available anti-seismic devices adapted to be applied to load-bearing structures or machines, particularly to automated drawer-type warehouses. In particular, it remains unsatisfied the need to have available inexpensive anti-seismic devices which allow to not excessively affect the cost related to the automated drawer-type warehouse, as well as to maintain limited and substantially constant the maximum accelerations to which the automated drawer-type warehouse is subject under any load condition, thereby preventing any overturning and/or movements that would result in accidental falls of the drawers, for example in the case where automated warehouses are provided with drawers, and to contain as much as possible the stress level within the supporting structural elements.

In this context, the technical task at the base of the present invention is to provide an anti-seismic device which overcomes the drawbacks of the known art mentioned above and which is able to meet aforementioned requirement.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for anti-seismic structures or machines, in particular warehouses, that is able to allow movement of the load-bearing structure or the machine relative to the ground and to cause the movement to return in the initial position, preferably by dissipating the kinetic energy transmitted by the earthquake to the load-bearing structure or to the machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a "universal" anti- seismic device, i.e. a device which can be adapted to any load-bearing structure and which is able to limit the maximum accelerations to which the load-bearing structure is subject, owing to a behavior which is independent of the load condition of the load-bearing structure. Such independent behavior allows to maintain a constant level of the maximum acceleration in the oscillating movement induced by the earthquake upon variation of the total mass, which mass is to be understood as the sum of the fixed mass of the load-bearing structure and the variable load mass.

The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are substantially attained by an anti-seismic device for load-bearing structures or machines and by a load-bearing structure or machine, comprising the technical characteristics disclosed in one or more of the appended claims. The dependent claims correspond to different embodiments of the invention. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a anti-seismic device, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of an anti-seismic device according to one possible embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view in section of the anti-seismic device of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of the anti-seismic device of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of some details of the anti- seismic device of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 is a schematic view in perspective of a load-bearing structure, in particular an automated warehouse according to one possible embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a detail of the automated warehouse of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is a perspective schematic view of an anti-seismic device according to a possible different embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 8 is a schematic view in section of the anti-seismic device of Figure 7;

- Figure 9 is a schematic view in section of a detail of the anti-seismic device of Figure 7;

- Figure 10 is a perspective schematic view of an anti-seismic device according to a possible different embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 1 1 is a schematic view in section of the anti-seismic device of Figure 10;

- Figure 12 is a schematic view in section of a detail of the anti-seismic device of Figure 10;

- Figure 13 is a schematic view in section of the anti-seismic device of Figure 10 according to a possible embodiment;

- Figure 14 is a perspective schematic view of an anti-seismic device according to a possible different embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 15 and Figure 16 are schematic views in section of the anti- seismic device of Figure 14, according to different angles;

- Figure 17 is a schematic view in section of a detail of the anti-seismic device of Figure 14;

- Figure 18 is a schematic sectional view of the detail B of Figure 2;

- Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of the detail A of Figure 13;

- Figure 20 is a schematic sectional view of the detail of Figure 19. With reference to the attached figures, in particular to Figures 1 -4, by 1 it is indicated an anti-seismic device for load-bearing structures or machines in its entirety, in particular for automated warehouses 2. Hereinafter, explicit reference will be made to the application in an automated drawer-type warehouse 2 although it is possible any application to any load-bearing structure or machine.

The anti-seismic device 1 comprises at least a supporting foot 3 which is suitable for being fixed to a load-bearing structure 4 of the automated warehouse 2.

The supporting foot 3 is configured to rest and slide on a support and sliding surface 5 so as to allow the relative movement of the automated warehouse 2 with respect to the support and sliding surface 5. The support and sliding surface 5 is particularly a horizontal surface, integral with the ground, and the supporting foot 3 is configured for resting and sliding horizontally thereon.

Furthermore, the supporting foot 3 can define an energy dissipation element and for this purpose may comprise a sliding shoe 6 which is made of a material suitable to withstand high temperatures which may be caused by friction during sliding of the supporting foot 3 on the support and sliding surface 5. For example, the sliding shoe 6 can be made of ultra-high molecular weight UHMWPE polyethylene or metal coated with fluoropolymer and binder resins reinforcement based films.

With reference to Figure 18, the supporting foot 3 may comprise a stem 7 suitable for being fixed to the load-bearing structure 4 of the automated warehouse 2. In particular, the stem 7 is suitable to be arranged vertically. The stem 7 is connected to a base 8 defining a receiving seat 9 of the sliding shoe 6.

The lower surface of the supporting foot 3 and in particular the sliding shoe 6 is resting on the support and sliding surface 5, so that the supporting foot 3, and thus the automated warehouse 2, can slide horizontally with respect to the ground, whereon the automated warehouse is resting. In this way the supporting foot 3 performs the function of decoupling the horizontal movement of the automated warehouse 2 with respect to the movement of the ground. Furthermore, the supporting foot 3 performs the function of energy dissipation element due to friction that is generated by the relative sliding between the sliding shoe 6 and the support and sliding surface 5.

In accordance with a possible alternative, illustrated by way of example in Figure 19 or 20, the supporting foot 3 comprises a stem 7 which is suitable for being fixed to the load-bearing structure 4 of the automated warehouse 2. In particular, the stem 7 is suitable to be arranged vertically.

The stem 7 is connected to a base 8 defining a receiving seat 9 of a rolling shoe 6a. In other words the rolling shoe 6a comprises a plurality of rolling elements 6b, for example spheres.

The lower surface of the supporting foot 3 and in particular the rolling shoe 6a is resting on the support and sliding surface 5 so that the supporting foot 3, and thus the automated warehouse 2, can slide horizontally with respect to the ground whereon the automated warehouse is resting.

Also in this case the supporting foot 3 performs the function of decoupling the horizontal movement of the automated warehouse 2 with respect to the movement of the ground. Unlike the supporting foot 3 provided with a sliding shoe, 6 the solution of the supporting foot 3 provided with rolling shoe 6b, allows to limit the energy dissipation which is generated by the sliding of the supporting foot 3 on the support and sliding surface 5.

The anti-seismic device 1 further comprises at least an abutment element 10 which is adapted to be made solidly constrained with the support and sliding surface 5.

Preferably, the anti-seismic device 1 comprises a sliding plate 1 1 suitable to be made solidly constrained with a surface of the ground supporting the warehouse 2. The sliding plate 1 1 defines the support and sliding surface 5 for the supporting foot 3. In this case the abutment element 10 may be solidly constrained with the sliding plate 1 1 and is preferably defined by a pin which protrudes transversely from the support and sliding surface 5. The anti-seismic device further comprises at least one spring device 12 adapted to be interposed between the abutment element 10 and the automated warehouse 2.

The spring device 12 is configured to generate a return action (force and/or torque) of the automated warehouse 2 as a result of the relative movement of the automated warehouse with respect to the support and sliding surface 5.

The spring device 12 is preferably configured to generate a return force of the automated warehouse 2 as a result of the relative movement of the automated warehouse with respect to the support and sliding surface 5. The spring device can operate along a direction, in one direction or in opposite directions.

In other words, the spring device 12 can be so arranged as to generate a return force that can be oriented in both directions or in one direction only: in the first case the spring device 12 develops its action when, due to the effect of the movement of the automated warehouse 2 with respect to the ground, a change in the length thereof occurs and this return action is such as to tend to restore the resting length of the spring device 12 both in the case of an elongation or a shortening of the device. In the second case, if the spring device 12 is of the "traction" type, the action develops only if there is an increase in length of the device compared to the resting length, whilst if the spring device is of the "compression" type, the action arises when the length of the device is lower than the resting length. Advantageously, the spring device has a non-linear, preferably progressive spring characteristic. The term "spring characteristic" of the spring device 12 indicates the curve expressing the relation between the action (force and/or torque), applied to the spring device, and its geometric variation associated to the (linear and/or angular) displacement of the automated warehouse 2 from the corresponding resting position with respect to the support and sliding surface 5.

The spring device 12, which is preferably so designed as to generate a return force, exhibits a progressive spring characteristic when its stiffness increases as the supporting foot 3 becomes relatively increasingly spaced apart from the abutment element 10, starting from the initial relative "resting" position, (i.e. upon increasing of the length variation of the spring device 12 with respect to the resting length). Since in the presence of horizontal movement of the ground, for a certain spring device 12, greater displacements occur upon growing of the mass associated with the automated warehouse 2, (which mass is to be understood as the sum between the mass of the load-bearing structure 4 and the masses of the products stored), the effect obtained is that the spring device 12 tends to work within a greater stiffness range upon increasing of the mass associated with the automated warehouse 2. The result obtained is that the spring device 12, and in particular its elastic characteristic, can be configured in such a way that, during the oscillating movement induced by the earthquake, the spring device 12 exhibits a maximum acceleration that is independent of the value of the mass associated with the automated warehouse 2.

The spring device 12 can be designed in such a manner that the elastic elements are pre-loaded, i.e. a force greater than a pre-determined value is required which gives rise to a variation in length of the spring device 12. The higher is the pre-load value conferred on the elastic elements, the more the spring device 12, at the end of the earthquake, tends to bring back the automated warehouse 2 in the position in which the automated warehouse 2 was before the earthquake.

In particular, the spring device 12 can be operationally interposed between the supporting foot 3 and the abutment element 10.

In accordance with a possible embodiment, shown by way of example in Figures 1 -5, the spring device 12 comprises at least two elastic rings 13 made of elastomer, which are configured to intervene consecutively and that exhibit different lengths L. Each elastic ring 13 is particularly interposed between the abutment element 10 and a pin 14, which pin 14 is adapted to be solidly constrained with the automated warehouse 2, preferably with the supporting foot 3.

As illustrated for example in Figure 4, each elastic ring 13 comprises a first end 13a, being suitable for being solidly constrained with the automated warehouse 2, preferably with the supporting foot 3, and a second end 13b, opposite the first end, suitable to interact with the abutment element 10. In accordance with a possible embodiment, an arm 15 is adapted to be solidly constrained (at one of its ends), with the automated warehouse 2, preferably with the supporting foot 3. This arm 15 has a groove 16 adapted to slidingly engage with the abutment element 10. Preferably, the groove 16 is open at an opposite end thereof with respect to the supporting foot 3.

Where there is provided the arm 15, the elastic rings 13 are preferably housed within the arm. In particular, each elastic ring 13 is housed inside a respective housing 17.

Referring to Figure 2, the arm 15 exhibits one end which is solidly constrained with the supporting foot 3 through a seat 18, which is suitable to be coupled with the base 8 of the supporting foot 3. The pin 14 is disposed transversely in the arm 15 and is inserted internally of holes 19 of the elastic rings 13, at the first end 13a. The spring device 12 particularly comprises three elastic rings 13 with increasing lengths L. Each elastic ring is wrapped around the abutment element 10 and its second end 13b is free. The second ends 13b of the three elastic rings 13 are disposed at increasing distance from the abutment element 10.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, it is illustrated the warehouse 2, in particular an automated drawer-type warehouse, comprising at least one pair of anti-seismic devices 1 arranged opposite one to another. In particular figure 6 illustrates a detail of the warehouse 2, of which only the supporting portion, comprising two pairs of anti-seismic devices, is represented.

Each spring device 12 of each pair exhibits a main direction of operation F. In the case of two pairs of anti-seismic devices, the main directions of operation F of each spring device 12 are arranged in a quadrilateral. Preferably there are provided additional supporting foot 21 , sliding on the support and sliding surface 5.

In use, the automated warehouse 2 is resting on supporting feet 3 (preferably four supporting feet), and preferably on further supporting feet 21 (preferably four additional supporting feet provided with a sliding shoe). In case of an earthquake, the supporting foot allows uncoupling of the movement of the ground from that of the automated warehouse. The supporting foot 3 and the sliding plate 1 1 are further so realized as to define a dissipation system of the kinetic energy still transmitted to the automated warehouse 2 owing to the friction that is generated during the relative sliding due to the sliding shoe 6. To this end, the supporting foot 3 is designed in such a manner as to withstand the high temperatures produced.

In other words there are provided means of energy dissipation which in the case of Figure 1 -6, comprises the sliding shoe 6 associated to the supporting foot 3.

The spring device 12 is configured to bring back the automated warehouse in its initial position.

Each spring device 12 provided with at least two elastic rings 13, is of the "traction" type, and is advantageously configured to exert a return force in one direction when the supporting foot moves away from the abutment element. Thus, owing to the presence of two or more anti-seismic devices provided with spring device 12 of the "traction" type, it is possible to obtain a return oscillating movement to the initial position. The elastic characteristic of the spring device allows to limit the acceleration to which the automated warehouse is subject, particularly during the return step in its initial position, and to make such accelerations independent of the mass of the warehouse itself, so that accidental overturning or falling of the drawers are prevented.

In the case of the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the stiffness of the spring device 12 increases upon increasing of the distance between the supporting foot and the abutment element due to progressive interaction between the abutment element and the elastic rings. For small displacements (then limited masses), an elastic ring only intervenes. For intermediate displacements (then intermediate masses), two elastic rings are involved, and for big displacements (i.e. full load of the warehouse), all three elastic rings are involved.

Owing to the set of two or more elastic overlapping rings which can be sequentially actuated, the anti-seismic device may be maintained compact, and thus the automated warehouse, particularly the height thereof.

Further, use of elastic rings made of elastomeric material, allows the energy to be dissipated the into heat. Thus, as shown in Figure 1 -5, the energy dissipation means, besides the combination constituted by supporting foot 3 and support and sliding surface 5, further comprises the spring device which exhibits at least two elastomeric material rings having different lengths L and configured to intervene consecutively.

According to a possible alternative embodiment, the spring device 12 may comprise at least a progressive helical spring preferably arranged between the abutment element 10 and the supporting foot 3.

The progressive helical spring may be a cylindrical helical spring with variable pitch 22 as shown in Figures 7-9, or a conical helical spring (not shown).

In the case of Figure 7-9, the spring device 12 comprises a piston-cylinder assembly 23, which is adapted to be interposed between the load-bearing structure, preferably between the supporting foot 3 and the abutment element 10. The progressive coil spring 22 is operationally arranged within the piston-cylinder assembly 23.

According to a possible alternative embodiment, the spring device 12 may comprise at least one cylindrical elastomeric spring 24, for example made of cellular polyurethane as shown in Figures 10-12. An example of a suitable material for this purpose is the Cellular VULKOLAN ®, produced by Bayer.

In the case of Figure 10-12, the spring device 12 comprises a piston- cylinder assembly 23 adapted to be interposed between the load-bearing structure, preferably between the supporting foot 3, and the abutment element 10. The cylindrical elastomeric spring 24 is operationally arranged within the piston-cylinder assembly 23.

In the case of Figure 10-12, the energy dissipation means includes a spring device 12 comprising the cylindrical elastomeric spring 24, for example made of cellular polyurethane.

The energy dissipation means may further comprise a sliding shoe 6, as shown by way of example in Figures 1 -6 or 18.

Alternatively, where it is requested to concentrate energy dissipation in the spring device 12, the supporting foot 3 may be realized according to Figure 13,19 and 20 and comprise a rolling shoe 6a.

In accordance with a possible embodiment, shown by way of example in Figures 14-17, the anti-seismic device may comprise energy dissipation means comprising a shock absorber 25 disposed in parallel to the spring device 12. As illustrated for example in Figures 14-17, the remaining components of the anti-seismic device 1 , may be similar to those described with reference to Figures 7-9.

Alternatively, the shock absorber 25 can be added to any type of anti- seismic device in order to increase or add an effect of energy dissipation. Figures 14-17 illustrate a supporting foot 3 provided with a rolling shoe 6a (similar to that shown in Figures 19-20). Alternatively there may be provided to use a supporting foot 3 supplied with a sliding shoe 6 (similar to that shown in Figure 18).

In other words, any embodiment of the anti-seismic device according to the present invention may comprise one or more supporting feet 3 selected from among a supporting foot 3 provided with a rolling shoe 6a (similar to that shown in Figures 19-20), and a supporting foot 3 provided with a sliding shoe 6 (similar to that shown in Figure 18).

In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the spring device 12 may be operating along one or more directions. For example, the spring device may comprise a disc-shaped elastomeric element associated with the supporting foot 3. In particular, the supporting foot 3 is arranged within the projection on the supporting plane of the disc-shaped element. For example, the supporting foot is passing through the disc-shaped element. The disc-shaped element is solidly constrained to an anchoring element. In particular, the anchoring element can be annular-shaped and constrained to the outer edge of the disc-shaped element.

The present invention attains the set aims by decoupling the movement of the load-bearing structure (automated warehouse) from that of the ground, and preferably by dissipating the kinetic energy. The set aims are furthermore achieved by the present invention owing to a spring device with non-linear elastic characteristic, which elastic characteristic gives rise to an oscillating movement in order that the automated warehouse may be brought back in the central position thereof. The oscillating movement, irrespective of the mass of the load-bearing structure of the warehouse, makes the load-bearing structure subject to limited maximum accelerations, which are lower than those that would cause overturning of the warehouse or which would overcome the friction coefficient of the drawers in the case of warehouses.