# US 2008/0185494 A1 · Collapsible Pneumatically Stabilised Support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185494 A1 - Document ID: US20080185494A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/885,909 - Filed: 2006-03-17 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-23 - Inventors: Rolf Luchsinger; Rene Crettol - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185494A1 ## CPC - E04H 15/20: inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A collapsible pressure element (2) for pneumatically stabilized supports enables the simple and rapid construction and dismantling thereof. Several pressure segments (4) are located on that side of the pressure element (2) upon which the transversal stress acts, that is, on the side facing away from the hollow body (at the top in the figure). The pressure segments (4) are separated from one another by means of breaks (5). The breaks (5) between the pressure segments (4) permit the pressure element (2) to be collapsed. A tractive element (6) faces the hollow body (at the bottom in the figure), said pressure element (6) being separated from the pressure segments (4) by one or several spacer elements (7). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support comprising a hollow body (1), which is supplied with compressed gas, at least one pressure element (2), at least one tractive element (3), wherein the pressure element (2) is stabilized against buckling by means of the hollow body (1) in that said pressure element (2) rests along the hollow body (1) and is connected therewith, characterized in that the part of the pressure element (2), which accommodates the pressure forces, is divided into several pressure segments (4) by means of breaks (5) and the support can be collapsed or rolled together without dismantling the pressure element (2) after the hollow body (1) has been emptied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support according to patent claim 1, characterized in that the pressure element (2) is formed in three layers, at least of one tractive element (6) facing the hollow body (1), of several pressure segments (4) facing away from the hollow body (1) and of at least one spacer element (7), which separates pressure segments (4) and tractive elements (6) from one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The support according to one of patent claims 1 or 2, characterized in that provision is made for means for generating a pressure prestress of the pressure element (2) so that the pressure element (2), which is separated by at least one break (5), can be prestressed with pressure force when in an unstressed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The support according to patent claim 3, characterized in that the pressure prestress of the pressure element (2) is so high that, even in the event that the support is stressed, the separated pressure element (2) is always pressed together across the entire region of the breaks by means of the pressure prestress. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4) The support according to one of patent claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the pressure prestress is generated by means of at least one cable (20) and by means of tensioning means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3, 4) The support according to one of patent claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the pressure prestress is generated by means of at least one tractive element (3), which is tensioned by a pneumatic hollow body (1). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) The support according to one of patent claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure element (2) is divided into several sections, which are connected by means of pivot joints (10, 14) via breaks (5). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The support according to patent claim 7, characterized in that the pivot joints (10) are installed on the side of the pressure element (2) facing the hollow body (1) and that the pressure element (2) can be collapsed, rolled or bent on one side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The support according to patent claim 8, characterized in that provision is made for means (15) for blocking the pivot joints (10, 14) in the event of an elongate pressure element (2). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The support according to patent claim 9, characterized in that sleeves (16) are used as means (15), which can be positioned above the breaks (5) and which thus block the pivot joints (14). ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The support according to patent claim 2, characterized in that an oblong hollow body (8), which can be pressurized in a pneumatic or hydraulic manner, is used as spacer element (7). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The support according to patent claim 11, characterized in that tractive elements (6) in each case connect two pressure segments (4) with one another in pairs, wherein the tractive elements (6) are fastened to the same pressure segments (4) in pairs and are wound around the hollow body (8) in a helical manner in the opposite direction of rotation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The support according to patent claim 2, characterized in that the spacer element (7) is divided at the breaks (5) and the sections are connected with the pressure segments (4) in a laminar manner. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 3) The support according to one of patent claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the pressure element (2) consists of several hollow profiles (19), which collide at breaks (5) and in that a bolt (24), which substantially accepts the inner cross section of the hollow profile (19), is available for each break (5) and in that furthermore provision is made for means for moving the bolt (24) to the location of the break (5) in the event of an elongate state of the pressure element (2) within the hollow profiles (19) and to thus prevent the pressure element (2) from buckling. ### Claim 15 A support comprising a hollow body (1), which is supplied with compressed gas, at least one pressure element (2), at least one tractive element (3), wherein the pressure element (2) is stabilized against buckling by means of the hollow body (1) in that said pressure element (2) is connected with the hollow body (1) substantially along its entire length, characterized in that the pressure element (2) consists of a tube-shaped, pressure-tight hollow body (11), which is made from a flexible material, wherein the pressure in the hollow body (11) is greater than in the hollow body (1) and the pressure fluid in the hollow body (11) is liquid or gaseous. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The support according to patent claim 15, characterized in that the pressure in the hollow body (11) is at least 1 bar. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) The support according to one of patent claims 1 to 16, characterized in that provision is made for means, which maintain the position of the tractive elements (3) at the hollow body (11) in the emptied state.