TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to building and construction and in particular to pivotal connections of non-structural bodies to structural bodies, the structural bodies being of the type prone to instability due to dimensional or positional change.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Unless the non-structural body is arranged to move in concert with the structural body, a rigid connection may threaten the integrity of the non-structural body. Even where efforts are made to compensate for movement, damage may still occur. The buildings are prone to move. This means that the structural elements move and the non-structural elements will follow if rigidly connected. There are many arrangements proposed in the patent literature where efforts have been made to allow for this movement with all manner of contrivances. Concrete structures including horizontal slabs in multi-storey buildings are prone to flex and move in the ordinary course and more so in the case of earthquakes and tremors so it has been proposed to cater for this movement in order to protect the non-structural walls.

[0003] Many efforts have been made to alleviate this problem, which in effect, has been a problem since building and construction began. Examples of a whole host of possible solutions are given in the following patent specifications:

[0004] Examples are in the following: PCT/AU2018/000047 and PCT/AU2020/000060 and PCT/AU2021/051102 all to the present applicant; US 4,037,380; US 7,624,549; US 8,495,844; DE 2836126; FR 2863284; US 20060032157; US 9,719,253; US 20050120661 ; and from an Article 15/5 search on the priority application, Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2022901943, by the Australian Patent Office - US 8,458,972; W02021003514A1 ; JP3586506B2;

WO2015053639A1 ; WO2020231273A1 ; JP2013181285A; US2019285224A1 ; W02017181406A1 and KR20170132508A. There are many more examples. It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful alternative to the prior art. [0005] Walls have been around for millenia, concrete multi-storey buildings for at least 100 years. This means the Applicant’s invention arises in a mature and crowded art so this is the lens through which the notional skilled person should see the present invention, in order to avoid hindsight, this involves a background of a vast number of alternatives, so the skilled person must not only select integers of Applicant’s invention from many possibilities but that selection must necessarily involve rejection of others of the vast number of possibilities.

[0006] Applicant has devised a number of interfaces with internal dividers including walls and ceilings and these are described below independently and in combination, Applicant reserving the right to divide.

OUTLINE

[0007] The present invention seeks to provide at least a useful alternative to the prior art, by providing in one broad aspect, components of relief, including at least, some pivoting components, against transfer of instability from a structural body to a non-structural body, the components being arranged below the structural body which components together provide an interface to segregate movement between the structural body and the non-structural body to the components.

[0008] The instability of the structural body usually involves different types of motion, for example intermittent, reciprocating, or vibration type motion which may be more or less severe. An earthquake would be a severe example. In some cases there may be a permanent shift in position. A structural body may have dimensional instability in position or even in the structural body itself due to expansion and retraction with temperature or by other unforeseen occurrence as in a fire event, or simply movement of the foundations which can of course occur in any building even if the best building practices are employed.

[0009] In all these cases it is desirable to maintain the integrity of the original designed positional relation between the bodies. If this is not maintained damage is likely. This may range from visual changes to a surface finish, cracking, damage to services supplies and conduits and so on and in severe cases complete failure. [0010] Theoretically, any applied force from instability of the structural body may be represented as a resultant force of its components. Compensation for solely vertical components will not compensate for other components and so on. Other force variables may come into play. For example, floor drift in a high rise building may have a greater amplitude at the outsides of a floor due to the usual central core and left wall providing a central structural column. In other structures the effects may be greater at the centre. Sway may increase toward the higher floors and an s-wave may propagate across the foundation and then upward with varying amplitude and a frequency depending on how severe an earthquake may be and the substrate through which it moves. Small tremors may be sufficient to cause permanent damage even though the building may still be usable. This all means an interface, ideally should provide a range of compensation effects that maintain the integrity of the non-structural body across a range of instability possibilities up until the structural body itself completely fails, but at least in the realistically usable range in an effort to avoid regular maintenance to the non-structural body caused by the instability.

[0011] In terms of a resultant force, whether that be reciprocal as in a vibration or bounce or a force resulting in a dimensional or positional change, the pivotal components preferably, provide a resultant force relief, divided across the components so that as the structural body moves in any direction at a point in time, the components move so that, the non-structural body remains substantially stationary relative to the structured body. The result of these divisions through the components is that it means that different components have movement allocations according to the inventor’s examples, which allocations contribute to the whole effect, for a particular application. For example, there may be a solely vertical allocation along a line at one part, this may be complemented by an allocation of rotation about a 45 degree axis, there may be an allocation about a ball joint in all directions or partial ball joint type action, there may be an allocation to a linear movement of a coil spring serving to shorten or lengthen a link etc.

[0012] Thus components of relief may include one or more self-compensating linkage assemblies for pivotally anchoring the non-structural body in its original position and which determines its positional relation to the structural body, and for counteracting, via distinct pivot points, dimensional instability of the structural body by segregating the structural body instability through selectively absorbing that instability within the or each of the said linkage assemblies.

[0013] Force applied to a non-structural body may be divided into vertical and horizontal components even though the actual force may predominantly be vectorily in one direction or in an oblique plane. In addition many of the movements referred to above may be complex and the same generating activity may have variable effects in different locations in a structure. It would be desirable to have an arrangement that caters for this variation.

[0014] In one preferred form the invention is applied between a structural body comprising a substantially horizontal concrete body of defined thickness in a building and a non-structural body comprising a vertical wall arranged below the concrete body, the wall having an upper end spaced from the concrete body, the pivotal components comprising a laterally projecting upper end pivotal connection (as used herein connect, connection and similar terms means direct or indirect connection whereas “joined” means direct or integral) by which the components are connected or joined to the upper end of the wall. The upper end pivotal connection is typically in the plane of the wall.

[0015] The laterally extending upper end connection may then be connected either directly or indirectly to the structural body depending upon the spacing between the wall and the body and the predictable instability that may be imposed upon the components. The lateral extending upper end connection may be in the forms of a laterally projecting mounting located laterally from the upper end pivotal connection. The mountings may be flat, integral, laterally projecting mounting flanges.

[0016] Typically, an indirect connection is made through an articulated attachment section. These may be articulated at lower ends to the upper end pivotal connection or at upper ends adjacent the structural body or both.

[0017] In a preferred form the lateral connection from the non-structural wall is provided on both sides of the wall. To this extent there is provided bi-laterial pivotal connections between the bodies which are complementary but not necessarily symmetrical.

[0018] In a preferred form the invention employs upwardly extending linkages as laterally opposed arms or wings. There may be additional arms or wings disposed between the laterally opposed arms or wings. These may be elongate retractable linkages having axial dampers or be axially self restoring. In one case axially disposed springs may be used to place the linkage in a neutral or original position so that it may reciprocate as part of a predetermined movement allocation. In another example, pivot pins may be used to constrain pivoting to a single axis as part of the movement allocation. In other cases a component may have a ball joint type allocation of movement or a limited multidirection, limited swivel as a movement allocation.

[0019] In a preferred form the components are configured as upwardly divergent arms, each arm being connected to an upper wall end pivotal connection and having at an upper end of each arm a pivotal connection to the structural body. The pivotal connection to the structural body preferably is connected or joined to at least one self restoring spring assembly. The spring assembly may be above or below the pivotal connection. Typically, the spring is responsive to pivoting of the pivotal connection and preferably they are arranged to move in concert. The pivotal connections at each end of the arms may comprise swivels or ball type connections. In one case an eyelet is free on a shaft as the type of pivotal connection, the shaft being constrained to a predetermined movement allocation by reason of the configuration of the arm.

[0020] in a preferred from there is provided components of relief installed between a horizontal structural divider in a building and non-structural walls below the divider, including at least, some pivoting components, against transfer of instability from divider to the walls, the components being arranged below the divider which components together provide an interface to segregate movement between the divider and the walls, the instability of the divider being represented as a resultant force of its force components, in terms of a resultant force, the pivotal components provide a resultant force relief, divided across the components of the force so that as the structural divider moves in any direction at a point in time, the components move so that, the walls remain substantially stationary relative to the divider, the components having movement allocations, which allocations contribute to the whole effect, for a particular application, the components of relief including one or more self-compensating linkage assemblies for pivotally anchoring a said non-structural wall in an original position and which determines the walls positional relation to the structural divider, and for counteracting, via distinct pivot points, dimensional instability of the structural divider by segregating structural divider instability through selectively absorbing that instability within the or each of the said linkage assemblies.

[0021] Typically components of relief are installed between a horizontal structural divider in a building and non-structural walls below the divider, the pivotal components comprising a laterally projecting upper end pivotal connection by which the components are connected or joined to an upper end of a vertical wall, the upper end pivotal connection being in the plane of the wall. [0022] Where the laterally extending upper end connection is connected either directly or indirectly to the structural divider depending upon the vertical spacing between the wall and the divider and the predictable instability that may be imposed upon the components, the lateral extending upper end connection is in the form of a laterally projecting mounting located laterally from the upper end pivotal connection. Where the components of relief include an indirect connection between the divider and walls made through an articulated attachment section. The articulated attachment section may be articulated at lower ends to an upper end pivotal connection. The lateral connection from the non-structural wall may be provided on both sides of the wall and comprises bi-laterial pivotal connections between the bodies which are complementary in accommodating sideways movement but are not necessarily symmetrical. There may further be upwardly extending linkages as laterally opposed arms or wings, including elongate retractable linkages having axial dampers or being axially self restoring. The elongate retractable linkages may have axial dampers or be axially self restoring to an original neutral position so that it may reciprocate as part of a predetermined movement allocation. There may be pivot pins used to constrain pivoting as part of a predetermined movement allocation to a single axis as part of the movement allocation. There may be a ball joint type allocation of movement or a limited multidirection, limited swivel as a movement allocation. The components may be configured as upwardly divergent arms, each arm being connected to an upper wall end pivotal connection and having at an upper end of each arm a pivotal connection to the structural divider. The pivotal connection to the structural divider may be connected or joined to at least one self restoring spring assembly, the spring assembly being above the pivotal connection. The pivotal connection to the structural divider may be connected or joined to at least one self restoring spring assembly, the spring assembly being below the pivotal connection. In this example a spring of the spring assembly is responsive to pivoting of the pivotal connection and they are arranged to move in concert. The pivotal connections at each end of the arms may comprise swivels or ball type connections. In another example an eyelet is free on a shaft as the type of pivotal connection, the shaft being constrained to a predetermined movement allocation by reason of the configuration of the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order that the present improvements may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic illustrating relief using of five pivots and two dampers;

Figure 2 is a practical example using a central pivot and two lateral pivots;

Figure 3 illustrates a further variation where a partial ball joint effect employed at one pivot;

Figure 4 adds an extension and pivot;

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate another example;

Figure 6 illustrate a upper arm end structural body connection;

Figures 7 illustrates an alternative upper arm end structural body connection;

Figure 8 is an alternative connection that may be employed as one relief component;

Figures 9 is an alternative connection that may be used as one relief component;

Figures 10A through 13 are examples of the components described earlier assembled and used as divergent arms with a central upper wall end pivotal connection to an upper wall track, while Figure 10B is an alternative connection to a track applicable to all embodiments.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

[0024] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated in schematic, an assembly of pivotal components of relief 10 between a structural body, represented by broken line 11 (in this example it is an upper structural body), and a non-structural body represented by the broken line 12 (in this case shaped as an upper wall track but any body may be protected).

[0025] Instability of body 11 , that would otherwise be transferred to body 12, is relieved by the assembly of pivotal components 10 so that body 12 does not suffer from that instability. In this example there are five pivots, a central pivot 13 connected to the body 12, two lower lateral pivots 14 and 15 and two upper lateral pivots 16 and 17 conetec to the upper body 11. In each case the numeral used points to the actual pivot and its pivot axis shown by the arrowed indicator for the movement about that axis. All axes in this schematic would be pivot pins so the allocated movement is to rotate about the individual axes, the lines represent plates, tubes, angles or rods. The actual rotary shafts, various fasteners and other detail is omitted for clarity as this drawing is to illustrate the principle of the present invention as applied in this particular embodiment.

[0026] In this example each pivot involves a pivot pin constraining the pivot to an axis but other type pivots may be employed to give a desired movement. These may include non-rotary type connections, such as flexible connectors, straps, leaf springs, and other rotary types as in ball joints, swivels, loose fitting eyelets over rods, chains and so on. [0027] In the example of Figure 1 the central pivot connector 13 has a plate 18 with integral lateral flanges 19 and 20 which in use, sets these at 45° . Where the bodies 11 and 12 are at 90°, as may be the case for a horizontal concrete divider and a wall below it, lateral arms 21 and 22 (shown broken in Figure 1 (to indicate variable length, either by interchangeability or by adjustment) pivot at the lower ends to the flanges 19 and 20 and at the upper end relative to brackets 23 and 24 which are rigid with the body 11. The brackets 23 and 24 have 45° downward flanges 25 and 26 respectively. The end result is divergent arms 21 and 22 at 45° pivoted at each end. This means movement that would impinge on the plane of the wall is compensated for. In addition to the pivotal movement, in this example the arms include dampers 27 and 28 for axial reciprocation of the arms so that the arms may extend and retract. This compensates for movement that would impinge across the wall and limited up and down movement. Torsion at the wall is compensated for by the pivot 13. The net effect is that the wall remains stationary. The pivot 13 may be mounted on a spring for further vertical play but this is not essential; pivot and extension in the lateral arrangement may be arranged to cater for vertical components of movement. Each of the pivots may be more mobile and swing in more directions particularly at the upper and lower ends of the arms.

[0028] It will be appreciated that certain movements if taken in the plane of Figure 1 of the body 11 will be complementary, equal and opposite type movements, for example rotation about pivot 13 of plate 18. Where this movement is to satisfy a predicted wide range then the arms may cater for a wider arm swing with a swivel or use a ball type pivot rather than a pivot pin. Typically this would be at the top rather than at the bottom.

[0029] There are many variations, for example a spring may be interposed at any location to increase the range of relief, connections may be strengthened with interposing elements, more pivots may be used. Pivots 14 and 15 may employ ball joints, partial balls, rod and eyelet joints or other pivotal arrangement than pivot pin for greater movement as may pivots 16 and 17. The number and position of the pivots may vary determined by the required relief. Where two arms are employed there should be at least a centre pivot and two lateral pivots. Again the number and arrangement of pivots will depend on the application. There should be some vertical relief but this is typically laterally offset and combined or associated with reciprocation and a pivot.. [0030] The following drawings illustrate applications of the teachings of the present invention to vertical non-structural walls. Like numerals illustrate like features.

[0031] In Figure 2 a section of head back or top track 29 representing the upper end of the wall has a rigid plate 30 fitted to it at the point of connection to the pivotal connection 13. An integrally formed plate 18 and 45° lateral flanges 19 and 20 form a pivot connection 13 using a bolt, spacers arranged for pivoting in the usual way. Respective connector plates 31 and 32 are provided to enable connections to arms or in some cases to brackets of the type 23 and 24 shown in Figure 1 where the wall is close enough to the upper body 11.

[0032] Referring to Figure 3, the flanges in this case are connected to L-shaped connector brackets 33, 34 via joints 35 and 36 which employ extended length eyelets with spherical bearings to permit up and down and swinging universal motion of brackets 33 and 34 (and any connections to them) in addition to the pivot previously described. A bolt with suitable spacers is used to position the bearing for the desired range of allocated movement. In some cases this additional swinging capability may be desirable.

[0033] Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment, the integral lateral flanges 37 and 38 in this case are at 90° to the plate 18 and pivots 39 and 40 are horizontal with connector brackets 41 and 42 providing 45° arm connections to the horizontal. The position of the central pivot connection afforded by 18 and its integral flanges is shown rotated for illustrative purposes. So in this case there is relief for what would otherwise cause the track and its wall to move in its plane, by the pivot pins 39 and 40, so for reciprocation or vibration of the structural body above, the extension to the structural body (not shown) would cause the brackets to rock about pivots 39 and 40 being potential movement in the plane of the wall and out of the plane of the wall is relieved by rotation about pivot 13. Joints 35 and 36 may be interposed where that additional effect is desirable.

[0034] Referring to Figures 5A and 5B and these show an example of an upper end configuration of an arm assembly 22 where a structural body connection bracket 23 has flange 43 which is connectable to the structural body at 45° with a bend at 44 and a return at 45. A pair of springs 46 and 47 are set on either side of return 45 which is in a neutral position in Figure 5A half way along a shaft 48. An end of shaft 48 is connected to joint 49 9 similar to 35 or 36) or a simple eyelet 50 allowing limited swivel and rotation on a stub 51 projecting from a bracket 52 which in turn is secured to tube or angle section 53. [0035] Figure 5B compared to Figure 5A illustrates motion of the bracket 23 as would arise through movement of a structural body to which it is joined, so the shaft 48 is shown tilted to relieve the motion from being transferred to the arm 22, any motion that is transferred is further relieved by the other pivoting components near to the wall upper end as described above and subject to the allocation in the particular design, so the net result is minimal impact on the wall below in accordance with the predicted design limits.

[0036] Figure 6 illustrates the same components for an upper end pivot and swivel type connector of the type used in Figures 5A and 5B but with the pivot and springs in reversed positions. Note in this case bolt sleeve spaces 54 and 55 are shown which retain the eyelet and bearing 50 in position so that it has the desired range of reciprocal movement.

[0037] Figure 7 is an underside view of Figure 6.

[0038] Figure 8 is an alternative to the employ the integral pivot connection 18, 37, 38, where 45° (in use) connectors are set, in this case with the vertical flanges 56 and 57 are used and 45° flanges 58 and 59 are set midway in a neutral position using springs 60 and 61 on spring shaft 62. Sideways motion is relieved using the springs. Lengthwise motion is relieved using the rotation of the flanges 56 and 57 around the spring shaft 62 and torsion by plate 18 around the pivot connection 13.

[0039] Figure 9 is another alternative that uses an inverted T bracket 63 to the non-structural body, with the 45° connectors of Figures 8 pivoted to the vertical plate 64. The horizontal plate 65 would be secured to an upper end of the non-structural body. To the extent any of the components only provide partial relief, they would be supplemented by additional pivot connections elsewhere to relieve the other components. Thus in Figure 9 the allocation is only to relive potential in plane movement, so above these there would be other pivot connections and arm extension/retraction allocated to other movements lacking in Figure 9.

[0040] Referring now to Figures 10A -13 show complete pivot components secured at a lower end to a wall track where the complete arm assemblies are shown. The top ends are the same in each example essentially the arrangement of Figure 6, the central upper wall end pivot connection differs in each case. In Figure 10 and 11 the plate 18 and integral flanges and connector plates 31 and 32 of Figure 2 are used but in Figure 11 the plate 18 is raised and held by a spring in a neutral position so that it may pivot and may move up and down within the track. There need not be a spring; the upper end of the wall may simply be spaced by the body of a fastener and the upper end of the wall being positioned for the fastener to slide up and down in the track.

[0041] In Figure 12, the lower end is effectively the arrangement of Figure 3 but with the plate 18 raised and moveable up and down relative to the track.

[0042] Figure 13 the lower end is the arrangement of Figure 8 but with plate 18 raised by up and down motion.

[0043] So in each example of Figures 10-13 relief is by five pivots, two upper springs and in Figures 11-13 up and down motion of plate 18 is also allocated.

[0044] In Figure 10B there is an example of an in track wire spring mechanism 67 having arms 68 and 69 with the spring operable to centre the pivot fastener 13 in a wider hole 70 giving a self centreing aspect in addition to the pivotal connections referred to above. Since the fastener projects up through the track this may be used with any embodiment.

[0045] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims.