A-frame shear assembly for walls

Abstract

Lateral motion devices are used in conjunction with shear assemblies to further dissipate shear forces on buildings. In one embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the shear assembly and the upper portion of the wall to permit relative motion therebetween and to absorb and dissipate a portion of the shear forces through expansion and/or compression of spring members. In another embodiment, the lateral motion device is interposed between the foundation and the bottom of the shear assembly and in yet another embodiment, the lateral motion device is embedded in the foundation so as to be interposed between the anchor bolt and the foundation. The shear assembly can be either a panel assembly or an A-frame assembly.

1 . A system for reducing the effects of a shear force on a building structure comprising: 
 a wall comprising a plurality of vertical studs and at least one upper horizontal plate interconnecting the plurality of vertical studs wherein the wall further comprises a lower portion wherein the upper horizontal plate is adjacent the upper portion of the building and the lower portion of the wall is adjacent a foundation of the building;    a shear assembly that fits within a space defined by two adjacent studs of the wall, the upper horizontal plate, and the lower portion of the wall, such that the shear assembly couples the upper portion of the wall to the foundation wherein the shear assembly comprises: 
 a head assembly for coupling the shear assembly to the horizontal plate of the wall;  
 an anchor assembly for coupling the shear assembly to the foundation; and  
 an interconnecting member that interconnects the head assembly and the anchor assembly; and  
   at least one motion damping device that couples at least one of the head assembly and the anchor assembly so as to dissipate at least a portion of the shear force between the upper portion of the wall and the foundation.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting member comprises an A-frame.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motion damping device comprises one motion damping device that couples the head assembly with the horizontal plate of the wall.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motion damping device comprises one motion damping device that couples the anchor assembly with the foundation.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motion damping device includes a spring member that resists motion resulting from the shear force.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spring member resists motion having a lateral component between the interconnecting member and the upper portion of the wall.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the spring member resists motion having a vertical component between the interconnecting member and the foundation.  
   
   
       8 . A shear assembly for reducing transmission of a force between an upper portion of a wall and a foundation of a building, the assembly comprising: 
 a head assembly for attaching to the upper portion of the wall;    an interconnecting member that is mechanically coupled to the head assembly;    an anchor assembly that is coupled to the interconnecting member and for attaching to the foundation; and    at least one motion damping device mechanically coupled to at least one of the head assembly and the anchor assembly, wherein the at least one motion damping device dissipates at least a portion of the force between the upper portion of the wall and the foundation.    
   
   
       9 . The shear assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the interconnecting member comprises an A-frame.  
   
   
       10 . The shear assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one motion damping device comprises one motion damping device that couples the head assembly with the horizontal plate of the wall.  
   
   
       11 . The shear assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one motion damping device comprises one motion damping device that couples the anchor assembly with the foundation.  
   
   
       12 . The shear assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one motion damping device includes a spring member that resists motion resulting from the shear force.  
   
   
       13 . The shear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the spring member resists motion having a lateral component between the interconnecting member and the upper portion of the wall.  
   
   
       14 . The shear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the spring member resists motion having a vertical component between the interconnecting member and the foundation.