SKIDMORE OWINGS & MERRILL, LLP Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130304435 | CARBON FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS TOOL FOR STRUCTURES - An emission estimation program configured to calculate the amount of carbon generated during the life span of a structure by displaying a graphical user interface which is configured to gather structural information pertaining of the structure, receiving structural information pertaining to the size, types of material used in the structure and structural aspects of the structure, generating an estimated amount of carbon generated from the use of each type of material to construct the structure and the labor used to construct the structure based on the structural information, the types, and amounts of material and labor required to repair the structure after a destructive event occurs based on a calculated probability and magnitude of a destructive event occurring, generating and displaying an estimated amount of carbon emitted as a result of the materials used and the labor required to repair the structure after the destructive event occurs. | 11-14-2013 |
20130179207 | Method and Apparatus for High Performance Design of a Project - Method, apparatus, and program for high performance design of a project. A goal of the project to meet at least one sustainability criterion is first received. A design strategy is then associated with the goal of the project in accordance with the at least one sustainability criterion. The design strategy is created based on a common design approach. A design task is further associated with the design strategy at each phase of the project in accordance with the at least one sustainability criterion. The design task is created to implement the design strategy. A goal metric for the at least one sustainability criterion at each phase of the project is then dynamically calculated based on information of the project from a database. Eventually, progress of meeting the at least one sustainability criterion is dynamically updated based on the calculated goal metric. | 07-11-2013 |
20120301331 | TIDAL RESPONSIVE BARRIER - A tidal barrier is provided that may be selectively deployed in response to tidal changes. The tidal barrier includes a net having a tensile, membrane with an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge has a plurality of anchor points for affixing the lower edge to a seabed below a body of water. The tidal barrier further includes a bladder affixed to the upper edge and having a valve for selectively inflating and deflating the bladder. The bladder has a sufficient volume to cause the upper edge of the membrane to rise to a surface of the body of water when the volume is inflated with a gas. A pump is disposed in proximity to the tensile membrane and is in fluid communication with the valve of the bladder. The pump has a controller for selectively prompting the pump to inflate and deflate the bladder with the gas. | 11-29-2012 |
20110126484 | PRECAST WALL PANELS AND METHOD OF ERECTING A HIGH-RISE BUILDING USING THE PANELS - Precast wall systems and methods for constructing a high-rise building using the precast wall system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of interconnected precast panels, each having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of vertical bars disposed between the end plates and a cementitious material encasing the vertical bars and defining a plurality of sides of the respective panel. A first of the precast panels has a first column member half defining a right side of the first panel, a second of the precast panels has a second column member half defining a left side of the second panel such that, when the right side of the first precast panel and the left side of the second precast panel are disposed horizontally adjacent to each other, the first column member half and the second column member half collectively form a column member. | 06-02-2011 |
20110038671 | TIDAL RESPONSIVE BARRIER - A tidal barrier is provided that may be selectively deployed in response to tidal changes. The tidal barrier includes a net having a tensile membrane with an upper edge and a lower edge. The lower edge has a plurality of anchor points for affixing the lower edge to a seabed below a body of water. The tidal barrier further includes a bladder affixed to the upper edge and having a valve for selectively inflating and deflating the bladder. The bladder has a sufficient volume to cause the upper edge of the membrane to rise to a surface of the body of water when the volume is inflated with a gas. A pump is disposed in proximity to the tensile membrane and is in fluid communication with the valve of the bladder. The pump has a controller for selectively prompting the pump to inflate and deflate the bladder with the gas. | 02-17-2011 |
20100192485 | SEISMIC STRUCTURAL DEVICE - A pin-fuse frame used in a frame assembly that may be subject to extreme seismic loading. The pin-fuse frame includes of columns, beams, plate assemblies that extend between columns and beams, and may included a diagonal brace. The plate assemblies are fixed to the columns and attached to the beams and brace via pin joints. A joint includes a pin connection through outer connection plates connected to a column and inner connection plates connected to a beam. Connecting rods positioned about the pin maintain a coefficient of friction until exposed to extreme seismic activity, at which time the joint accommodates a slippage of at least one of the inner and outer connection plates relative to each other rotationally about the pin. The diagonal brace is separated into two segments connected together with connection plates. These connection plates accommodate a slippage of the segments relative to each other. | 08-05-2010 |
20100180519 | Precast Wall Panels and Method of Erecting a High-Rise Building Using the Panels - A precast wall system and a method for constructing a high-rise building using the precast wall system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of interconnected precast panels. Each precast panel has a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of vertical bars disposed between and attached to the end plates and a cementitious material encasing the vertical bars and defining a plurality of sides of the respective panel. A first group of the interconnected precast panels are arranged vertically on a second group of the interconnected precast panels and the top end plate of each panel corresponding the first group is connected to the bottom end plate of a respective one of the panels corresponding to the second group. Methods for horizontally and vertically connecting the precast panels to each other are also disclosed. | 07-22-2010 |
20090275279 | ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING - A solar engine, which is vertically aligned along an interior portion of a building, is heated by solar radiation. The solar engine includes a warm air chamber at an upper portion of the solar engine and a hollow core positioned below the warm air chamber. Habitable spaces are positioned around the outside of the core toward an exterior of the building. Solar radiation on the warm air chamber creates a high temperature zone in the warm air chamber that induces a stack effect in which air rises through the core due to the lower temperatures in the core, and results in a negative pressure in the core. Air enters at a lower portion of the building and is pulled through the core by the solar engine. If the windows on the outside of the habitable spaces are opened, the negative pressure in the core causes passive cross ventilation from the outside of the building through the habitable spaces and into the core, where the air rises to the warm air chamber and then out of the building. This allows the habitable spaces to be naturally cooled and ventilated with no energy costs. Solar radiation may be directed into the warm air chamber and core using a reflector at the top of the building. One or more wind turbines and generators positioned around the top of the core convert the moving air from the core into electrical energy to power the building. | 11-05-2009 |
20080289268 | SEISMIC STRUCTURAL DEVICE - A link-fuse joint resists bending moments and shears generated by seismic loading. A joint connection includes a first plate assembly having a first connection plate including a first diagonal slot formed therethrough. A second plate assembly has a second connection plate including a second diagonal slot formed therethrough. The second diagonal slot is diagonally opposed to the first diagonal slot. The second connection plate is position such that at least a portion of the second diagonal slot aligns with a portion of the first diagonal slot. A pin is positioned through the first diagonal slot and the second diagonal slot. The joint connection accommodates a slippage of at least one of the first and second plate assemblies relative to each other when the joint connection is subject to a seismic load and without significant loss of clamping force. | 11-27-2008 |
20080289267 | SEISMIC STRUCTURAL DEVICE - A pin-fuse frame is used in a frame assembly that may be subject to extreme seismic loading. The pin-fuse frame includes of columns, beams, plate assemblies that extend between columns and beams, and may included a diagonal brace. The plate assemblies are fixed to the columns and attached to the beams and brace via pin joints. A joint includes a pin connection through outer connection plates connected to a column and inner connection plates connected to a beam. Connecting rods positioned about the pin maintain a coefficient of friction until exposed to extreme seismic activity, at which time the joint accommodates a slippage of at least one of the inner and outer connection plates relative to each other rotationally about the pin. The diagonal brace is separated into two segments connected together with connection plates. These connection plates accommodate a slippage of the segments relative to each other. | 11-27-2008 |