Frame damper bracing

Abstract

A damper brace for use in a rectangular structural building frame pane which pane is defined by interconnecting beams and columns includes a formed rigid triangle having an apex, and a force-adjustable, relative-motion braking structure operatively interposed the rigid-triangle apex and one of the frame beams forming the pane.

1 . A damper brace for use in a rectangular structural building frame pane which pane is defined by interconnecting beams and columns comprising:
 a formed rigid triangle having an apex, and   a force-adjustable, relative-motion braking structure operatively interposed the rigid-triangle apex and one of the frame beams forming the pane.   
     
     
         2 . The damper brace of  claim 1  wherein said formed rigid triangle includes a pair of elongate, upwardly and inwardly, relative to the pane's lateral sides, inclined legs having lower ends anchored to a lower beam in the pane adjacent nodal points of connection between that beam and two laterally disposed columns, and together with the lower beam forming a rigid triangle having an upper apex disposed generally centrally below the upper beam. 
     
     
         3 . The damper brace of  claim 1  wherein said braking structure includes a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced, generally coplanar brake plates, wherein one of said brake plates is anchored to an underside of an upper beam of the pane and the other of said brake plates is anchored to the apex which is formed by a pair of inclined legs. 
     
     
         4 . The damper brace of  claim 3  which includes a pair of brake shoes spanning the space between the brake plates and disposed on opposite sides of those plates. 
     
     
         5 . The damper brace of  claim 1  wherein an adjustable clamping structure force-adjustably clamps brake shoes located in said braking structure against the opposite sides of brake plates in said braking structure. 
     
     
         6 . A damper brace for use in a generally rectangular, open, structural building frame pane, which pane is defined by (a) a pair of upper and lower beams, and (b) a pair of laterally spaced columns extending between and anchored at nodal points to the upper and lower beams, the brace comprising:
 a pair of elongate, upwardly and inwardly, relative to the pane's lateral sides, inclined legs having lower ends anchored to the lower beam in the pane adjacent the nodal points of connection between that beam and the two columns, and together with the lower beam forming a rigid triangle having an upper apex disposed generally centrally below the upper beam;   a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced, generally coplanar brake plates, wherein one of said brake plates is anchored to the underside of the upper beam and the other of said brake plates is anchored to the apex of said inclined legs;   a pair of brake shoes spanning the vertical space between the brake plates and disposed on opposite lateral sides of those plates; and   an adjustable clamping structure force-adjustably clamping the two brake shoes against the opposite lateral sides of the two brake plates.