US 12,215,519 B2
Structural connector
Farhad Mohammadi Darani, Auckland (NZ); Pouyan Zarnani, Auckland (NZ); and Pierre Joseph Henri Quenneville, Auckland (NZ)
Appl. No. 17/257,127
Filed by AUT VENTURES LIMITED, Auckland (NZ); Farhad Mohammadi Darani, Auckland (NZ); Pouyan Zarnani, Auckland (NZ); and Pierre Joseph Henri Quenneville, Auckland (NZ)
PCT Filed Jul. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/055737
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 30, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/008422, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 744156 (NZ), filed on Jul. 6, 2018; and application No. 2019901741 (AU), filed on May 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0123257 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. E04H 9/02 (2006.01); F16F 7/09 (2006.01); F16F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC E04H 9/0215 (2020.05) [E04H 9/021 (2013.01); E04H 9/0237 (2020.05); F16F 7/095 (2013.01); F16F 15/022 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A resilient slip friction connector for connecting to and allowing displacement between a first structural member and second structural member of a building structure the connector comprising:
an elongate hollow casing configured for connection to the second structural member,
an elongate spring and damping assembly having two opposite ends, the spring and damper assembly configured to slide inside the casing in frictional engagement with the casing,
a rod provided within the casing and connected to the elongate spring and damping assembly, wherein the rod and the elongate spring and damping assembly move together, and wherein the rod is configured for connection to the first structural member,
at least one bearing element for bearing against one end of the spring and damping assembly, wherein the at least one bearing element is fixed relative to the casing at one end of the elongate spring and damping assembly only,
wherein the spring and damping assembly is able to be elastically deformed by its compression between one of its ends and the at least one bearing element due to a relative linear displacement of the rod and casing, and is configured such that a bias force caused by the compression of the spring and damping assembly exceeds the frictional force between the spring and damping assembly and the casing,
wherein the connector has an initial position of the rod and the casing in which the elastic deformation of the spring and damper assembly is minimised,
and wherein the connector is configured to allow relative displacement of the casing and the rod from the initial position in only one of a first direction, corresponding to a tension force on the connector, or an opposite second direction, corresponding to a compression force on the connector, and
wherein the hollow casing comprises at least one elongate split allowing the casing to expand and contract its internal cross-sectional shape or area, and wherein an adjustable member is provided for applying a force to the casing for setting and varying the sliding frictional engagement between the spring and damping assembly and the casing.