Abstract:
The present invention provides a space frame structure, such as a dome, for covering an open space, which structure is assembled from beam members which intersect at rigid node joints. The beam members and other structural components used in the skeleton of the space frame are made from pre-cast concrete which has not been subjected to pre-tensioning and the rigid node joints ar formed in situ, for example by casting concrete joints incoroporating the ends of beam members. The loads imposed by the weight of the beam members on the beams and the node joints effectively simulate pre-stressing of the components which act within the assembled structure as pre-stressed concrete. The invention also provides a method for fabricating a space frame structure made from pre-cast concrete beams and other components.
Abstract:
A multi-piece dome is constructed from a plurality of rigid panels and configured to receive a hemispherical optical projection on a truncated spherical inner surface. The inner view surface has a predetermined retroreflectivity. The multi-piece dome is lightweight, portable, self-supporting, and easily assembled, disassembled and transported from one location to another.
Abstract:
A method of constructing curvilinear structures utilizes an armature mast (12), an armature boom (14) having a vertically and horizontally rotatable arm (18) terminating in a reinforcing rod (rebar) tying guide (20), and associated hardware. The tying guide (20) is aligned with a piece of vertical rebar (50), and a separate piece of horizontal rebar (60) is placed adjacent and generally perpendicular to the vertical rebar (50) securing thereto. The tying guide (20) is then moved to engage an adjacent piece of vertical rebar (50), and the horizontal piece is bent inward for securing thereto. As the armature boom (14) is moved about the mast (12) and progressively raised, further vertical and horizontal pieces of rebar can be brought into juxtaposition and secured, thus generating a non-planar grid (92) of rebar and other desired rebar weaves (crossing patterns). An impermeable layer (80) is placed over the grid (92), and a hardening material is applied to form a rigid shell.
Abstract:
Shuttering elements (1, 20) for the construction of a hemispherical building are disclosed, comprising webs (10) along the side edges (4, 5) thereof. The webs (10) project from the underside (8) of the shuttering element (1, 20), facing what is to become the building interior (36). The individual shuttering elements (1, 20) may be connected using the webs (10), by means of quick-fasteners (12, 13) to produce the complete shuttering and are multiply re-usable. The invention further relates to a method for the construction of a hemispherical building.
Abstract:
This invention relates to sheet metal buildings of relatively large size and more particularly but not exclusively to processes and apparatus for cold-forming elongate building elements of such buildings and methods of building construction. The invention provides in one aspect cold-forming dies (30), mounted on intermediate transverse members (21) of a frame (1), comprising a set of coextensive generally in register dies between which the strip is received. The set comprises a male die (22) having a concave leading edge (24) and a female die (23) having a convex leading edge (18). The male die (22) and female die (23) are driven towards one another to plastically deform the strip (6) into a channel section. The concave leading edge (24) is provided with a coextensive protrusion (26) and the convex leading edge is provided with a coextensive recess (27). At the same time that the dies (22, 23) mate to plastically deform the strip (6) into a channel section the protrusion (26) and recess (27) of the respective dies (22, 23) mate to form a transverse rib (28) in the strip (6).
Abstract:
A dome roof for a large-scale structure, such as a stadium. In order that the dome roof can be opened and closed partially in accordance with the external environmental conditions including weather, it is formed of a fixed dome roof portion (16) with an opening (18) at the central section thereof and fastened at the outer circumferential section thereof to an outer wall (10) of a structure, and a plurality of movable roof units (28) each of which is so shaped that one of a plurality of divisions of this opening (18) can be closed therewith, and each of which is joined pivotably at one end thereof to the portion of the fixed roof portion (16) which is in the vicinity of the circumferential section of the opening (18). The opening (18) can be opened and closed by turning these movable roof units (28). The fixed roof portion (16) of the openable dome roof is constructed by pivotably fixing one end portion of each roof structural member (6) to the upper end of an upper wall of a structure (62), combining the end portions, which are on the side of the central opening, of these roof structural members in the shape of a ring by a compressed ring beam, and then raising the roof structural members (64) by a tensile member (76) until they have attained a predetermined angle of inclination.
Abstract:
La presente invención se refiere a viviendas de ferrocemento con geometrías semicirculares óptimas o similares construidas a base de mortero ligero estructural y/o mortero celular, en la que la curvatura óptima en conjunto con el mortero ligero estructural y/o mortero celular le confiere características sorprendentes de resistencia térmica, acústica y estructural mejoradas. Estas viviendas pueden edificarse utilizando diferentes tipos de cimbras como lo son mallas metálicas, mallas electrosoldadas, plásticas, de madera, de poliestireno, de polietileno, fibras cortas, mediana y largas de materiales diversos que substituyen al acero de refuerzo, de fibra de vidrio, de paneles por ejemplo de panel tipo covintec, panel W, panel mexalit, panel monolito, etc., y moldes plásticos, por ejemplo de polietileno, PVC, ABS, fibra de vidrio o cualquier material disponible en el mercado que pueda servir como molde o cimbra.
Abstract:
A method of constructing a spherical dome (or polygonal dome) almost by a low layer assembly, comprising the steps of constructing the top frame of the dome to be constructed on a base, lifting the top frame to a specified height, constructing a lower frame between the lower peripheral edge of the top frame and the surface of the base, further lifting the frame to a specified height, constructing the lower frame between the lower peripheral edge of the frame and the surface of the base, repeating the construction and lifting of the frame required times so as to construct all frames of the dome, and then finishing the exterior and interior of the dome.
Abstract:
An erectible and collapsible arched structure comprises a plurality of segments (1) which are connected end-to-end so as to extend longitudinally as an arched form in an upright plane when erected, a hinge connection (5) being provided between adjacent segments (1) with a hinge axis (X-X) that extends laterally of said upright plane, abutment means (6, 7, 8) being provided at the ends of adjacent segments spaced inwardly of the hinge axis (X-X) towards the underside of the arched form so as to cooperate in compression when the arched structure is erected, and a cable (10) extending longitudinally of the arched structure between end segments thereof along a path spaced inwardly of the hinge axes (X-X) and cooperating with each segment (1) so that when tensioned it holds the structure in its erected arched form. The cable returns across a chord of the arch to one end provided with a winch (13). Restraining ties (6) are provided between adjacent ends of the segment so as to limit the hinging action when the structure is collapsed.