Vibration-damping arrangement

Abstract

A vibration-damping arrangement intended to be placed in a slot-like shaft or trench in earth layers, or in water masses, wherein the arrangement includes a flexible container ( 1 ) which is pressurised by a gas in its operative state, and wherein the container has an associated gas generating device ( 2 ) which is adapted to generate a predetermined gas volume in the container at a given time delay. The vibration-damping arrangement can be used to reflect the propagation of vibrations or to restrict the occurrence of the quicksand phenomenon in water-containing ground in the event of cyclic pressure variations, e.g. in earthquake or landslip conditions. The arrangement can be conveniently combined with means for draining water from the ground in the near proximity of the container.

1 . A vibration-damping arrangement for ground or water installation, wherein the arrangement includes a flexible container ( 1 ) which is gas inflated in an operative state and in its position of use, characterised in that the container ( 1 ) includes an associated gas generating device ( 2 ) which is adapted to delay the delivery of gas to the container.  
   
   
       2 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the gas generating device ( 2 ) is adapted to slowly release the gas in the container ( 1 ) so as to enable the closed container including said gas delivering and gas generating device to be placed in an essentially non-inflated state in its place of use in which the gas generating device fully inflates the container.  
   
   
       3 . An arrangement according to  claim 1  characterised in that the gas generating device ( 2 ) contains a volume of gas in liquid or solid, preferably cooled, state, wherein the container ( 1 ) includes a gas inlet opening that can be closed, preferably by welding, subsequent to the introduction of a gas volume into the container, wherein the transition of the gas volume to a gas phase requires a predeterminable time period.  
   
   
       4 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the container ( 1 ) is supported by a structure ( 3 ) with which the container ( 2 ) can be mounted in a ground-formed shaft or in a water mass.  
   
   
       5 . An arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the structure ( 3 ) is adapted to drain water from the ground in the close vicinity of the container.  
   
   
       6 . An arrangement according to  claim 4  characterised in that the container ( 2 ) is surrounded by ground-installed drainage material.  
   
   
       7 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the structure ( 3 ) has a mass which prevents the structure-connected inflated container from floating up from liquid present in a ground-formed shaft in which the container and the structure are placed.  
   
   
       8 . An arrangement according to  claim 7  characterised in that the structure ( 3 ) is sheet-like and keeps the container extended and is placed in a slot-like shaft to form a vibration-damping screen.  
   
   
       9 . An arrangement according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the liquid in said shaft is a hardening mass; and in that a container ( 1 ) is placed on each side of the sheet-like structure ( 3 ).  
   
   
       10 . An arrangement according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the liquid or solid gas volume is encased by heat insulation that delays the transition of said gas volume to a gas phase.  
   
   
       11 . An arrangement according to  claim 1  characterised in that the gas generating device ( 2 ) as connected to the closed container ( 1 ) is adapted for activation at a freely selective time point.  
   
   
       12 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterised by draining means for draining water present in the ground in the proximity of the container ( 1 ).  
   
   
       13 . The use of an arrangement according  claim 1  for reducing the quicksand phenomenon in water-containing ground/soil in the case of cyclic pressure variations in the ground, for instance as a result of earthquakes.