Stressed membrane structure

• US 20060101730A1
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprung Instant Structures Ltd. (Sprung Sales Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sprung Instant Structures Ltd. (Sprung Sales Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sprung, Philip Davis
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/82
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/40 of metal E04C3/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/18 Tents having plural sectional covers, e.g. pavilions, vaulted tents, marquees, circus tents inflatable E04H15/20; Plural tents, e.g. modular
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/644 the fixing members being a beading
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/648 the longitudinal recesses being made from two clamping members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/907 Cover stretcher
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/908 Super tent or canopy

Abstract

A demountable building structure that is readily assembled from a set of components is disclosed. The building structure includes a plurality of arc frame members spaced along a length of the building structure. Each of the arc frame members extends from a first foot portion to a peak, and back to a second foot portion. Each of the arc frame members includes a plurality of beams. Each of the beams includes two opposed flanges. Each of the flanges has two bifurcated ends. The ends define c-shaped rope chases with openings. The building structure further includes bases slidably mateable with the first and second foot portions, and elongate membranes having beaded longitudinal edges. The membranes are stretched between adjacent of the arc frame members. The longitudinal edges are within the rope chases. Spreaders extend between adjacent of the arc frame members for urging apart the arc frame members from each other and for maintaining the membranes in a stretched condition.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising:

a plurality of arc frame members spaced along a length of the building structure, each of said arc frame members extending from a first foot portion to a peak, and back to a second foot portion, each of said arc frame members comprising a plurality of beams, each of said beams comprising two opposed flanges, each of said flanges having two bifurcated ends, said ends defining c-shaped rope chases with openings;

bases slidably mateable with said first and second foot portions;

elongate membranes having beaded longitudinal edges, said membranes stretched between adjacent of said arc frame members, said longitudinal edges within said rope chases; and

spreaders extending between adjacent of said arc frame members for urging apart said arc frame members from each other and for maintaining said membranes in a stretched condition.

2. A building structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said beams further comprises a central web, and the rope chase openings of at least one of the two opposed flanges are substantially angled out of the line of their flange in a manner so as to permit drawing said membranes through said rope chases with reduced friction during structure erection.

3. A building structure according to claim 2, wherein said beams are I-beams, and said openings are sufficiently constricted so as to prevent egress of said longitudinal edges from said rope chases.

4. A building structure according to claim 3, wherein the building structure defines an interior space, and said membranes comprise interior and exterior membranes, each of said exterior membranes adjacent and above one of said interior membranes, and spaces being defined between the adjacent membranes.

5. A building structure according to claim 4 further comprising fiberglass insulation within said spaces and means for retaining said insulation.

6. A building structure according to claim 5, wherein said insulation retaining means is insulation retaining tubes attached to said I-beams.

7. A building structure according to claim 3, wherein said chases are coated with a dry silicone lubricant.

8. A building structure according to claim 1, wherein the angle of declination from said peak is at least 26 degrees.

9. A building structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said spreaders is a telescoping spreader comprising a substantially hollow bar, another bar, and a connector, said hollow bar having interior ridges defining two opposed grooves within the hollow bar, said another bar sized to fit within said hollow bar and comprising a web having opposite edges, each of said web edges slidable along one of said grooves, said web positioned in said grooves closely adjacent a plane longitudinally bisecting said hollow bar, said connector for fixing the position of said another bar relative to said hollow bar.

10. A building structure according to claim 9, wherein said another bar is a pi-shaped bar.

11. A beam intended for a building structure, said building structure comprising a plurality of arc frame members and elongate membranes, said arc frame members spaced along a length of the building structure, each of said arc frame members comprising a plurality of beams which include said beam, each of said membranes secured by its opposite longitudinal edges between an adjacent pair of said frame members in a region between the interior and exterior of the building structure, said beam comprising:

opposed first and second flanges, both having two bifurcated ends, said ends defining c-shaped rope chases with openings,

said chases adapted for receiving said longitudinal edges.

12. A beam according to claim 11 further comprising a central web, and wherein the rope chase openings of said first flange are substantially angled out of the line of said first flange in a manner so as to permit drawing said membranes through said rope chases with reduced friction during structure erection.

13. A beam according to claim 12, wherein said first and second flanges each have a similarly shaped central channel.

14. A beam according to claim 12, wherein said second flange defines two bolt channels.

15. A beam according to claim 11 further comprising means for attaching a spreader connector to the beam.

16. A beam according to claim 11, wherein the ends of said first flange have a different shape than the ends of said second flange.

17. A telescoping spreader for moving apart spaced, adjacent arc frame members of a building structure, the spreader comprising:

a substantially hollow bar having interior ridges defining two opposed grooves within said hollow bar;

a plane longitudinally bisecting said bar;

a substantially pi-shaped bar comprising a web having opposite edges, said pi-shaped bar sized to fit within said hollow bar, each of said web edges slidable along one of said grooves, said web positioned in said grooves closely adjacent said bisecting plane;

a locking assembly for fixing the position of said pi-shaped bar relative to said hollow bar; and

means at ends of the spreader for securing the spreader to said adjacent arc frame members.

18. A spreader according to claim 17 further comprising another substantially pi-shaped bar comprising a web having opposite edges, said another pi-shaped bar sized to fit within said hollow bar, each of said web edges of the another pi-shaped bar slidable along one of said grooves, said web of the another pi-shaped bar positioned in said grooves closely adjacent said bisecting plane, and said hollow bar additionally having two opposite ends, said pi-shaped bar outwardly extendable from one of said ends and said another pi-shaped bar outwardly extendable from the other of said ends.

19. A spreader according to claim 18 further comprising another nut and bolt assembly for fixing the position of said another pi-shaped bar relative to said hollow bar.

20. A spreader according to claim 19, wherein said hollow bar additionally has ribbed interior walls.

21. A spreader according to claim 20, wherein said web defines at least two apertures located midway between said web edges, and said web of the another pi-shaped bar also defines at least two apertures located midway between said web edges of the another pi-shaped bar.

22. A method for erecting a building structure, the building structure in its erected form comprising a plurality of arc frame members, bases, elongate membranes and spreaders, each of said arc frame members extending from a first foot portion to a peak, and back to a second foot portion, each of said arc frame members comprising a plurality of beams, each of said beams comprising two opposed flanges, each of said flanges having two bifurcated ends, said ends defining c-shaped rope chases with openings, said elongate membranes having beaded longitudinal edges and a length of rope continuing on from each of said beaded edges, and each of said arc frame members also having a peak roller assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

standing up and spacing apart said arc frame members with each of said foot portions attached to one of said bases freely shiftable along a surface beneath said bases;

attaching said spreaders to said arc frame members so that there are spreaders extending between each of two adjacent of said arc frame members;

installing temporary roller assemblies at said foot portions, said temporary roller assemblies and peak roller assemblies of said two adjacent frame members for promoting advancement of the membrane;

positioning the lengths of rope within said chases;

advancing said membranes from the first foot portions of each of said two adjacent frame members, up through said chases, over said peak roller assemblies, and down to the second foot portions with the associated membrane extending outwardly from said rope chase openings, said advancing carried out by pulling on the lengths of rope;

spreading, by means of said spreaders, each of said two adjacent frame members so that spacing of said arc frame members is increased and said membranes are tautened; and

securing said bases to said surface beneath said bases to positionally fix said arc frame members.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein each of said beams further comprises a central web, and the rope chase openings of at least one of the two opposed flanges are substantially angled out of the line of their flange in a manner so as to permit drawing said membranes through said rope chases with reduced friction during structure erection.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said chases are coated with a dry silicone lubricant.

25. A method for advancing an elongate membrane between a pair of side by side arc frame members, each of said arc frame members extending from a first foot portion to a peak, and back to a second foot portion, each of said arc frame members comprising a plurality of beams, each of said beams comprising two opposed flanges, each of said flanges having two bifurcated ends, said ends defining c-shaped rope chases with openings, said elongate membrane having beaded longitudinal edges and a length of rope continuing on from each of said beaded edges, and each of said arc frame members also having a peak roller assembly, said method comprising:

installing temporary roller assemblies at the first foot portions, said temporary roller assemblies and peak roller assemblies of two adjacent of said arc frame members for promoting advancement of said membrane;

positioning the lengths of rope within said chases, and the lengths of rope over said roller assemblies; and

advancing said membrane from the first foot portions, up through said chases, over said peak roller assemblies, and down to the second foot portions with the associated fabric extending outwardly from said rope chase openings, said advancing carried out by pulling on the lengths of rope.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein each of said beams further comprises a central web, and the rope chase openings of at least one of the two opposed flanges are substantially angled out of the line of their flange in a manner so as to permit drawing said membranes through said rope chases with reduced friction during the method for advancing.

27. A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of spraying said chases with a dry silicone lubricant, said step occurring before said positioning step.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein said advancing step is carried out at least in part by two rope advancing machines.