(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
BA ME |
|
Designated Validation States: |
|
KH MA MD TN |
(71) |
Applicants: |
|
- Università degli Studi di Camerino
62032 Camerino (MC) (IT)
- Università degli Studi dell'Aquila
67100 L'Aquila (AQ) (IT)
- Vastarredo Industrie Srl
66054 Vasto (CH) (IT)
- Camillo Sirianni di Sirianni Angelo Francesco SAS
88049 Soveria Mannelli (CZ) (IT)
|
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Pietroni, Lucia
00184 Roma (IT)
- Dall'Asta, Andrea
60131 Ancona (AN) (IT)
- Leoni, Graziano
60035 Jesi (AN) (IT)
- Zona, Alessandro
65123 Pescara (PE) (IT)
- Mascitti, Jacopo
63100 Ascoli Piceno (AP) (IT)
- Di Stefano, Alessandro
97019 Vittoria (RG) (IT)
- Galloppo, Daniele
64010 Colonnella (TE) (IT)
- Paciotti, Davide
62019 Recanati (MC) (IT)
- Gioiella, Laura
60121 Ancona (AN) (IT)
- Scozzese, Fabrizio
65121 Pescara (PE) (IT)
- Morici, Michele
60041 Sassoferrato (AN) (IT)
- Micozzi, Fabio
62100 Macerata (MC) (IT)
- Fragiacomo, Massimo
34122 Trieste (IT)
- Tamagnone, Gabriele
10023 Chieri (TO) (IT)
- Sciomenta, Martina
67100 L'Aquila (AQ) (IT)
- Ciuffetelli, Edoardo
67100 L'Aquila (AQ) (IT)
- Peditto, Alfredo
67019 Scoppito (AQ) (IT)
- Salvatorelli, Emidio
Vasto (CH) (IT)
- Sirianni, Angelo Francesco
88049 Soveria Mannelli (CZ) (IT)
|
(74) |
Representative: Picarelli, Gennaro |
|
Via Monte San Michele, 15 Ancona 60124 Ancona 60124 (IT) |
|
|
|
|
|
Remarks: |
|
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC. |
|
[0001] The present invention describes a particular equipped wall. This invention might
be described as a conventionally furniture wall, however, in case of seismic events,
it reveals properties aimed to the safety of the nearby individuals, indeed, it guarantees
their protection against falling object due to the damage of the floors and it tackles
the overturning of the partition wall itself, just in case it is leaned to a partition
wall.
[0002] Generally, the equipped wall is settled next to a masonry or other partition wall,
to which it is attached through mechanical fixings, alternatively, the equipped wall
can be assembled by means of a ceiling-floor connection with adjustment devices for
upright height and which determine the independent support of the wall, thus defining
a self-supporting structure.
[0003] The state of the art describes equipped walls that can be specified as resistant
to the actions of an earthquake if they are anchored to partition walls that have
been designed to be seismically resistant. An important drawback of these solutions
is represented by the fact that, if the partition walls do not meet the seismic requirements,
the equipped walls anchored to them follow the fate of the partition walls, as well
as the equipped walls which, used as a dividing wall with a sky-earth connection,
do not have elements capable of stabilizing their structural behaviour under seismic
actions.
[0004] It is clear that a large majority of existing buildings do not have earthquake-resistant
partition walls. In this respect, the partition walls are likely to tip over in the
event of seismic events, and so they are a danger for the safety of people nearby.
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to ensure that the structural elements of the equipped
wall provide "
intrinsic anti-rollover" properties on it, thanks to the union between structural metal elements defined
as crossbeams (horizontal development) and the ones defined as uprights (vertical
development), together they develop a frame which is able to withstand the stress
induced by an earthquake.
[0006] This equipped wall is settled next to a masonry or other partition wall and it allows
the anti-rollover property to be transferred to this partition wall in the event that
it is subjected to seismic actions.
[0007] The self-supporting partition wall cannot transfer the anti-rollover property, since
it is not connected to any partition wall. However, if it is installed as a self-supporting
partition wall, it is able to contribute to the safety of people nearby, since it
expresses the other fundamental characteristic, which is the protection against falling
bodies due to the damage of the floors. This equipped wall has the advantage of not
transferring loads to the partition walls, as it can only be discharged onto the floor.
[0008] This equipped wall is set up to be modular and so it allows the composition of modelling
as required.
[0009] Each module of the equipped wall can rigidly insert a shelter at its top with a structural
function that makes it possible to contain any falls of bricks due to damage to the
floor slabs. It has the function of preventing them from hitting the people below
and thus creating a life-saving area.
[0010] Another advantage of this system is that it is made up of prefabricated elements
which are easy to assemble and transport.
[0011] The following part describes in more detail the elements that define this equipped
wall; in this respect please make reference to the graphical representations of the
attached figures, which have the sole purpose of facilitating the understanding of
the representation, although they are not binding in terms of shape or dimensions.
[0012] The reference figures are:
Fig.1 - represents an axonometric view of the metal structure with a life-saving function.
Fig.2 - represents a side view of the uprights.
Fig.3 - represents an axonometric and exploded view of the far-end elements of the
uprights.
Fig.4 - represents a view of the uprights/slab and uprights/floor coupling system.
Fig.5 - describes the floating superstructure covering the main structure.
[0013] With reference to these figures, we can say that the equipped wall consists of a
structure characterised by steel uprights (2) and crossbeams (1). The uprights are
made up of three parts, two of them are of the same shape and they are the far-end
of the uprights; they are made up of welded elements such as a tubular bar (2a) with
a rectangular cross-section with a welded rectangular plate (2b) at one end that acts
as a foot, and which allows it to be connected with both the slabs and the floors;
there are also two other tubular elements (2c) with a circular cross-section welded
to both the shaft and the plate that act as struts/tie-beams. The third part (2d)
is a tubular element that fits inside the rectangular profiles of the end parts, which
allows them to be connected, making it possible to adjust the length of the whole
uprights telescopically according to the height of the floor. Two further rectangular
steel profile parts, which are called crosspieces, are arranged horizontally, they
connect the various uprights used in the configuration with a removable coupling.
[0014] In order to ensure better alignment of the foot plates (2b) with the surfaces of
the slab or floor, a movable plate (5) is interposed between said foot (2b) and the
slab or floor. Said movable plate, on the side of interfacing with the slab or floor,
has a suitable thickness (4) of elastomeric material of equal surface dimensions.
Said mobile plate together with the elastomeric thickness interposed, allows both
to recover any misalignments with the interfaces (plate / ceiling or plate / floor)
and to be able to apply a coupling preload with the surfaces of the slab and floor
thanks to the screw adjustment system of said movable plate (5). Said screw adjustment
system allows the movable plate (5) to be moved away from the foot (2b). All this
makes it possible to maintain contact even in situations where dynamic stresses are
applied to the structure as well as, due to the effect of the improved adhesion between
the elastomer (4) and the contact surface, being more effective in counteracting reciprocal
slippage. Depending on the conditions encountered in the building, the fixings of
the movable plates (5) to the ceiling and floor can be integrated with mechanical
anchors (6). All the above ensures the structure of said equipped wall to work according
to the static arched scheme, it also satisfies at its best the purposes for which
it has been conceived; here it is a short summary:
- it has the function of preventing the overturning of partition walls
- it has a life-saving function thanks to the presence of a structural shelter (3) and
also thanks to the intrinsic anti-rollover condition.
[0015] So far, this is what the wall system offers in terms of safety, obviously it also
guarantees functional aspects for housing accessories such as: shelves, containers
and anything else that may be useful for the finalization of the wall system.
[0016] For this purpose, said equipped wall separates the life-saving structural function
from the function of supporting the accessories. For this it makes use of a coating
(7) (which can be made of various kinds of materials from wood to polymeric to metal
as well as to composites) which rests directly on the ground and adds aesthetic value
(it partially or totally hides the structural elements) as well as functional allowing
to support all the accessories provided for the customized set-ups. These accessories
are fixed directly to the coating without placing their weight on the steel structure.
The fact that the coating (7) itself constitutes the structural part for the application
of the accessories means that it does not affect the load transfers on the steel safety
structure, which can carry out its functions freely.
[0017] The connection between the coating and the steel structure allows the coating itself
to move on the floor plane independently from the movements of the steel structure,
thanks to a floating coupling, which is determined according to the chosen coating
geometry.
1. Modular system of life-saving equipped wall with intrinsic anti-overturning function
in the event of an earthquake, comprising two interconnected load-bearing structures
with floating connection designed to guarantee the reciprocal freedom of movement
of said structures in conditions of dynamic stress of the same.
2. Modular system of equipped wall according to claim 1 where a first structure is a
metal frame with adjustable height fixed to the floor and ceiling and composed of
vertical uprights 2, horizontal crossbeams 1 and protection shelters 3 interconnected
with removable or fixed connections. Said frame is able to counteract the overturning
of non-earthquake resistant partition walls to which it is leaning and to contain
the fall of bodies from floors damage thanks to the shelters 3.
3. Modular system of equipped wall according to claim 1 where a second structure 7 is
formed by covering structural elements resting on the ground and connected to said
first structure with a floating connection.
4. Modular system of equipped wall according to claims 1 and 3 wherein said second structure
has an aesthetic-functional value and is able to cover said first structure and to
host the fixing seats for the insertion of accessories such as panels, shelves, containers.
5. Modular system of equipped wall according to claims 1 and 2 wherein the connection
between the upright and the ceiling and the upright and the floor comprises a viscoelastic
element 4 which is interposed between them and has the function of compensating for
geometric misalignments between the parts and the further function of improving the
adhesion between the contact surfaces.
6. Modular system of equipped wall according to claims 1, 2 and 5 wherein that said viscoelastic
element 4 is integral with a mobile steel plate 5 connected to the foot of the upright
with adjustment screws. Said movable plate 5 allows to apply a compression preload
between the viscoelastic element and the ceiling / floor.
7. Modular system of equipped wall according to claims 1,2,5 and 6 wherein that said
movable plate 5 in some cases can be connected to the ceiling or to the floor with
further fixing elements to prevent possible sliding between them if the admissible
preload to the ceiling does not guarantee this.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. Modular system of equipped wall with intrinsic anti-overturning function
characterized in that it comprises two bearing structures connected but free to move independently if dynamically
stressed thanks to a floating connection and having different features as a first
bearing structure performs the functions of:
- safety given by its intrinsic anti-overturning property,
- life-saving in case of seismic events given by protective shelters (3)
and it is composed of a metal frame with adjustable height, comprising:
i-at least four vertical uprights (2), each composed of:
- two equal parts, that make up the ends of the upright, obtained by welding one end
of a tubular profile of rectangular section (2a) with a rectangular plate (2b) which
acts as the foot of the upright and welding with two tubular elements with a circular
section (2c) joined both to the profile (2a) and to the plate (2c),
- a part consisting of rectangular section tubular profile (2d) which fits inside
the rectangular section tubular profiles (2a) of the said end parts of the upright,
allowing the telescopic connection and guaranteeing the height adjustment of the upright,
- a movable plate (5) joined on one side to said foot (2b) of the upright with height
adjustable screw connection, bearing on the opposite side a coating in glued elastomeric
material (4) which interfaces both with the floor and with the ceiling and which has
at least one housing for fixing dowels (6),
ii at least two horizontal crossbeams in rectangular section tubular profile (1) connected
to the uprights (2) with removable fixing,
iii at least one protection shelter (3) connected to a pair of said uprights (2) with
removable fixing,
and
a said second structure (7) comprising a plurality of vertical load-bearing elements
leaning on the floor, made of various materials and various shapes, that are connected
to the said first structure and contain the anchors of the furnishing accessories,
such as shelves, drawers, sliding doors etc.
2. Modular system of equipped wall according to claim 1 characterized in that said first structure is formed by a frame with adjustable height fixed to the floor
and to the ceiling by said movable plates (5) and composed of four vertical uprights
(2), two horizontal crossbeams (1) and a protection shelter (3) connected with removable
fixings, designed to counter the overturning of non-earthquake-resistant partition
walls against which said frame is leaning and to contain the fall of bodies from ceiling
damage thanks to the said protection shelter (3).
3. Modular system of equipped wall according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that said second supporting structure (7) leaning on the floor and connected to said first
structure with floating connection and comprising a plurality of vertical elements
of various shapes and materials, is able to contain anchors for furnishing accessories
such as panels, shelves, containers, etc. allowing them not to load their own weight
and the weight of the accessories on the first structure.
4. Modular system of equipped wall according to one or more of preceding claims characterized in that said second structure has an aesthetic-functional value and is able to cover said
first structure to improve the aesthetic appearance.
5. Modular system of equipped wall according to one or more of preceding claims characterized in that said elastomeric element (4) integrated with the mobile plate (5) interfaces both
with the ceiling and with the floor, compensating geometric misalignments and improving
adherence in interfacing both with the ceiling and with the floor.
6. Modular system of equipped wall according to one or more preceding claims characterized in that said movable plate (5) integrated with said elastomeric element (4), is connected
to the foot of the upright (2b) with adjustment screws allowing to apply a compression
preload between elastomeric element (4) and ceiling and elastomeric element (4) and
floor.
7. Modular system of equipped wall according to one or more of preceding claims characterized in that said movable plate (5) can be connected to the ceiling or to the floor with further
fixing dowels (6) to prevent the possible sliding if the admissible preload to the
ceiling is not sufficient.