Modular combination floor support and electrical isolation system for use in building structures

Abstract

A floor structure support system comprising a main floor which directly supports one or more computers and one or more additional floors disposed beneath the main floor. The additional floor or floors provide support and mechanical isolation for cables and other electrical conductors, and include sidewalls defining vertical passages to the main floor; one or more of the additional floors may be used as environmental control ducts, with or without sidewalls in addition to those forming the vertical passages. A modular system of support columns, brackets and floor and wall panels is disclosed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A combination working area floor structure and conductor support and isolator assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of vertically extending floor support column units each having upper and lower end portions and an intermediate column section, a working area floor positioned by and disposed in overlying relation to said upper ends of said column support units; means on at least one intermediate portion of said support columns for positioning and supporting at least one conductor support floor, said conductor support floor being disposed beneath and spaced apart from said working area floor, a plurality of vertically extending imperforate wall panels extending between portions of said conductor support floor and said working area floor so as to subdivide the region above said conductor support floor and below said working area floor into a mechanically isolated conductor plenum adapted to receive and support insulated electrical conductors, and to afford mechanical isolation therefor, said plenum also including at least one upwardly extending opening in said working area floor through which said conductors may pass for attachment to an apparatus supported on said working area floor, with said wall panels also defining a mechanically isolated, vertically extending passage extending from beneath said conductor support floor through said isolated plenum and to said working area floor, with an under portion of said working area floor lying above said vertically extending passage and said conductor support floor also including at least one opening therein to afford communication between the area above said working area floor and the area beneath said conductor support floor. 
     
     
       2. A combination floor structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one conductor support floor comprises at least two conductor support floors. 
     
     
       3. A combination assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one conductor support floors, with said vertically extending imperforate wall panels comprising a plurality of wall panel groups, add with at least one wall panel group being arranged so as to extend between said first conductor support floor and said working area floor, and with another of said wall panel groups being extending between said second conductor support floor and said first conductor support floor, and to further extend between said first conductor support floor and said working area floor, thereby subdividing said area between said first and second conductor support floors into another isolated conductor plenum, with said working area floor and said first and second conductor support floors further including sufficient openings therein to the permit the passages defined by said wall panel groups to extend between the region above said floor into said one conductor plenum, said other conductor plenum, and said region beneath said second conductor support floor, respectively. 
     
     
       4. A combination floor structure as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said vertically extending passages extending from beneath said conductor support floor to said working area floor is adapted for the circulation of air which is isolated by both said vertical wall panels and said floor panels from a plenum defined at least in part by said conductor support floor. 
     
     
       5. A combination work area support floor and conduit protection assembly, said asembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending support columns having their lower end portions adapted to be supportingly received on a building floor structure, with each of said columns also including an uppermost bracket for receiving and positioning at least portions of working floor panels, a lower floor support bracket adapted to engage and support at least portions of a lower floor forming panels and at least one intermediate floor support bracket being adapted to engage and support portions of intermediate floor-forming panels, said work area support floor comprising a plurality of imperforate panels extending between and supported by said brackets on said individual columns, with at least some of said working area floor panels being apertured so as to provide a path of communication between the area above said working area floor and the area beneath said working area floor, a plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form an intermediate floor structure, and an additional plurality of panels extending between said brackets so as to form a lower support floor, with a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between said working area floor and at least one each of said intermediate and lower floors so as to provide at least one vertical passage extending through and being mechanically isolated from the plenum formed between said intermediate floor and said working floor area, and the plenum between said working area floor and said lowermost support floor to provide passages from the area beneath said lower floor to the area above said working area floor, thereby providing plural plenums for supporting electrical conductors or the like, and for permitting the passage of ventilating air, all of said plenums being separated from one another by imperforate panels and each providing access to itself from an area outside said structure on the one hand and to the area above said work area support floor on the other hand. 
     
     
       6. A modular three-dimensional support structure adapted to be positioned atop and be supported by a building floor, said structure including a working floor adapted to support a machine or the like, at least first and second sub-floors disposed in underlying relation to said work floor and being vertically spaced apart from each other and spaced upwardly apar from said building floor structure, said structure comprising a grid system including a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending columns arranged in a regular pattern along two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, a plurality of brackets disposed on each of said columns, said plurality comprising a plurality of upper brackets being affixed to the respective upper ends of said columns, said upper brackets lying in a first plane and being connected to one another by working floor support stringers, a plurality of first sub-floor brackets disposed respectively on said individual columns and lying in a single plane parallel to the plane of said working floor, with said brackets having attached thereto a plurality of first sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, and a plurality of second sub-floor brackets each associated with one of said columns and being arranged in coplanar relation with one another and lying in a plane spaced vertically apart from the plane of said work floor and first sub-floor, with said second sub-floor brackets having attached thereto a plurality of second sub-floor support stringers of channel-shaped cross-section, a plurality of floor panels associated with said upper brackets to form a working floor area, said plurality of working floor panels including imperforate panels and panels permitting passage of air and of electrical conductors therethrough, a plurality of first and second sub-floor panels received in said stringers and forming first and second sub-floors, and a plurality of vertically extending wall panels extending between vertically spaced panel supports so as to form vertical walls within said structure and so as to define, in part, plural isolated passages lying beneath said work floor, with portions of said passages being adapted to permit electrical conductors to pass therethrough and other portions being adapted to direct air therethrough for ventilation. 
     
     
       7. A method of protectively encasing electrical conductors and providing a conditioned air duct system for an enclosed environment which includes a building floor structure, said method comprising erecting a plurality of columns, disposing said columns in regularly spaced apart relation along given lateral and longitudinal axes, affixing said columns to one another by erecting a plurality of stringers extending horizontally between adjacent columns to define a three dimensional grid pattern including a plurality of panel-receiving frame units, said frame units being arranged in coplanar groups on spaced apart levels lying parallel to said building floor, and one of said levels being an uppermost, work area floor level and the other levels being spaced therebelow, disposing flooring panels, in said frame units, said flooring panels being both imperforate panels and apertured panels for said work floor and being imperforate panels for said other levels, and disposing vertically extending imperforate wall panels in said frame units thereof, so that said floor and wall panel units combine to define plural passages isolated from one another and individually dedicated exclusively to conditioned air passages and electrical conductor passages respectively, with said passages including upper openings extending through said work floor to permit passage between said area above said work floor and the area comprising said isolated passages, whereby said system may provide a load support and work area floor, and a plurality of mechanically isolated conductors passages and conditioned air passages, respectively providing access to the interior of a room defined in part by said building floor. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  An apparatus for use within a building structure to provide a working area floor and to subdivide the space beneath said working area floor into separate spaces, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of vertically extending floor support column units each having upper and lower end portions and an intermediate column section, a working area floor positioned by and disposed adjacent said upper end of said support column units, means on said intermediate sections of said support column units for positioning and supporting a conductor support floor, a conductor support floor positioned by said positioning and supporting means in downwardly spaced apart relation to said working area floor, wall means extending generally vertically between portions of said conductor support floor and said working area floor and cooperating with portions of said conductor support floor and working area floor to define the interior of a first space in the form of a mechanically isolated wireway adapted to receive and support electrical conductors, said working area floor also including means providing access to the interior of said wireway from the area above said working area floor, with said conductor support floor, said wall means and at least a portion of said building structure cooperating to define a second space beneath said work area floor, said second space being mechanically isolated from said wireway. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said portions of said conductor support floor from which said wall means extend vertically to said working area floor are portions defining at least one opening in said conductor support floor, and wherein means are provided in the portions of said working area floor disposed above said opening in said conductor support floor to permit access to said second space from the area above said working area floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said wall means includes means in the form of at least one outer peripheral wall extending between an outer peripheral portion of said conductor support floor and portions of said working area floor disposed thereabove, wherein said conductor support floor includes portions defining at least one opening therein, wherein said working area floor includes portions disposed above said portions of said conductor support floor defining said at least one opening in said conductor support floor, said wall means further including wall means extending between said portions of said conductor support floor defining said opening and said portions of said work area floor disposed thereabove, said portions of said working area floor disposed above said portions defining said opening in said conductor support floor thereby defining at least one opening through which access to said second space may be had from the area above said working area floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said opening in said working area floor is covered by a panel permitting ready air flow therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said working area floor comprises a plurality of readily removable individual working area floor panels, each of said panels having four corner portions, with each of said support column units including a support bracket disposed at its upper end, and with at least some of said support brackets in use supporting corners of four different working area 
     
     
        floor panels. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said conductor support floor includes an outer peripheral portion, and wherein said wall means extending generally vertically between portions of said conductor floor and said working area floor comprises a wall disposed adjacent said outer peripheral portion of said conductor support floor so as to define the boundaries of said wireway. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.14.  An apparatus for use within a building structure to provide a working area floor and to subdivide the space beneath said working area floor into three separate spaces, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of vertically extending floor support column units each having upper and lower end portions and an intermediate column section, a working area floor positioned by and disposed adjacent said upper ends of said support column units, first and second, spaced apart means on said intermediate sections of said support column units for positioning and supporting respectively upper and lower conductor support floors, an upper conductor support floor disposed beneath and spaced apart from said working area floor and a lower conductor support floor disposed beneath and spaced apart from said upper conductor support floor, wall means extending generally vertically between vertically aligned portions of said upper and lower conductor support floors and between said upper conductor support floor and said working area floor and cooperating with said upper and lower conductor support floors and said working area floor to define the interiors, respectively, of upper and lower, mechanically isolated wireways each adapted to receive and support insulated electrical conductors, said working area floor also including means providing access to the interior of said upper wireway, means permitting an electrical conductor disposed within said lower wireway to pass from the interior of said lower wireway through said upper conductor support floor, through said upper wireway and through said working area floor, with said lower conductor support floor, said wall means and at least a portion of said building structure cooperating to define a third space which is isolated from said upper and lower wireways and lies beneath said working area 
     
     
        floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said portions of said conductor support floors from which said wall means extend vertically to said working area floor are portions defining openings in said conductor support floors, and wherein means are provided in the portions of said working area floor disposed above said openings in said conductor support floors to permit access to said third space from the area above said working area floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said wall means extending generally vertically between portions of said conductor support floors and said working area floor includes first means in the form of at least one peripheral wall extending between the respective peripheries of said conductor support floors and between one of said support floors said working area floor, wherein said conductor support floors include portions defining openings therein, wherein said working area floor includes a portion disposed above said openings in said conductor support floors, in which said apparatus further includes second wall means extending between said floor portions defining said openings and said floor portions disposed thereabove, and wherein means is provided in said portions of said working area floor disposed above said openings in said conductor support floor to permit access to said third space from the area above 
     
     
        said working area floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for positioning and supporting said upper conductor support floor includes brackets affixed to said support columns, and in which said upper conductor support floor comprises a plurality of readily removable floor panels positioned by said brackets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for positioning and supporting said upper conductor support floor includes brackets affixed to said columns, and wherein said apparatus further includes stringers extending between said brackets on said support column units, with said upper conductor support floor comprising a plurality of readily removable floor panels, each of said panels being supported at least in part by said stringers extending between said brackets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said lower conductor support floor comprises a plurality of individual panels, and in which said second positioning and supporting means includes brackets positioning the corners of said panels, and in which said apparatus further includes means overlying said panel corners and said brackets to retain said panels against upward movement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said upper conductor support floor is made from a plurality of individual panels, and wherein said means permitting an electrical conductor disposed within said lower wireway to pass from the interior of said lower wireway includes an 
     
     
        opening in one of said individual panels. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said vertically aligned portions of said conductor support floors comprises the respective peripheries of 
     
     
        said conductor support floors. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  A combination working area floor and electrical conductor support and protection assembly, for use in a building structure, said assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced apart, vertically extending support columns having their lower end portions adapted to be supportingly received on a building floor structure, with each of said support columns also including an upper end with a bracket thereon for receiving and positioning at least portions of working area floor panels, and an intermediate portion with support brackets thereon for engaging and supporting at least portions respectively of panels for forming upper and lower conductor support floors, said working area floor including a plurality of imperforate panels extending between and being supported by said working area floor support brackets on said support columns, at least one of said working area floor panels being apertured so as to provide a path of communication between the area above said working area floor and the area beneath said working area floor, a plurality of panels extending between said upper conductor support floor brackets so as to form an upper conductor support floor structure, and an additional plurality of panels extending between said lower conductor support floor brackets so as to form a lower conductor support floor, said assembly also including a first group of vertically arranged wall panels extending between portions of said working area floor and portions of the periphery of said upper conductor support floor, and a second group of vertically arranged wall panels extending between portions of said upper conductor support floor and the periphery of said lower conductor support floor, said groups of panels, said working area floor said upper and lower conductor support floors and portions of said building structure cooperating to define, respectively, mechanically isolated upper and lower wireways and a conditioned air space, said working area floor including means providing access to the interior of said upper wireway, with said assembly also including means permitting an electrical conductor disposed within said lower wireway to pass from the interior of said lower wireway through at least one of said upper conductor support floor panels, through said upper wireway and through said working area floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An assembly as defined in claim 22 which further includes means defining the walls of a vertical passage extending from beneath said lower conductor support floor through said lower and upper wireways, said passage having portions in registry with said apertured working area floor panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A method of protectively encasing electrical conductors and providing portions of a conditioned air circulation system for an enclosed environment which includes a building floor structure, said method comprising a erecting a plurality of columns, disposing said columns in regularly spaced apart relation along given lateral and longitudinal axes, disposing a plurality of floor panels in a coplanar group adjacent the upper ends of said columns to form a first floor level spaced from said building floor and lying generally parallel thereto, disposing a plurality of conductor support floor panels in a coplanar group to form a second, conductor support floor lying between said first floor and said building floor, erecting an imperforate wall which extends vertically from the outer periphery of said conductor support floor to the portions of said first floor lying thereabove so as to enclose the space therebetween to form a mechanically isolated wireway, providing at least one opening in said first floor to provide access to the interior of said wireway from the 
     
     
        area above said first floor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  For use within a building having walls and a base floor means, apparatus to provide a working area floor above said base floor means and to subdivide the space between said working area floor means and said base floor means into separate spaces; said apparatus comprising the combination of: floor support means each having a plurality of floor mounting means including a working area floor mounting means and a conductor support floor mounting means disposed below said working area floor mounting means;   working area floor means mounted on said working area floor mounting means and spaced above said base floor means;   conductor support floor means mounted on said conductor support floor mounting means and spaced below said working area floor means and above said base floor means;   and wall means, including said building walls, extending between said working area floor means and said conductor support floor means therebelow to define between them an interior space adapted to serve as a mechanically isolated wireway for receiving electrical conductors, and also extending between said conductor support floor means and said base floor means therebelow to define a second interior space beneath said working floor means which is mechanically isolated from said wireway;   said working area floor means including means providing access to the interior of said wireway from above said working area floor means.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said working area floor means comprises a plurality of individual panels defining said working area floor, said individual panels being readily removable so as to provide access to said wireway. .Iaddend.