Seismic isolation access floor assembly
View Patent ↗An access floor assembly includes a base floor, a substructure mounted to the base floor, a bearing plate, formed with a first cavity, mounted to the substructure and disposed apart from the base floor, an isolator plate, formed with a second cavity, overlying the bearing plate, a ball disposed between the bearing plate and the isolator plate contacting the first and second cavities, and a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.
1. Apparatus, comprising:
a base floor;
an isolator plate overlying the base floor;
a ball disposed between and concurrently directly contacting the base floor and the isolator plate;
a retainer mounted to the base floor underlying the isolator plate retaining the ball relative to the base floor;
the retainer comprises a body having an opening formed therein, and the ball located at the opening retaining the ball relative to the base floor and locating the ball relative to the isolator plate; and
wherein the retainer is constructed of compliant material providing damping between the ball and the retainer.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a frame coupled to the isolator plate and capable of receiving and supporting a floor plate.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame coupled to the isolator plate; and
a floor plate supported by the frame.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a concave cavity formed into the isolator plate; and
the ball contacting the concave cavity formed into the isolator plate.