Pneumatic load-supporting structures
OwnerRobert M. Darmstadtinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic structure, suitable for use as a roof, employs a series of upper and lower cables connected via vertical diaphragms and disposed within an inflated envelope such that a load imposed on the upper surface of the inflated envelope will be transferred to the lower cables via the diaphragms and then taken up by the lower cables. To carry this out, there is a common connection between the diaphragm, its upper cable and the upper surface of the membrane and a similar connection with the lower cable, the diaphragm and the membrane. A pneumatic compression ring is also disclosed for use with the pneumatic roof structure or for use in supporting an alternative roof structure, or a segment thereof may be used as a pneumatic arch.
Claims18
A pneumatic structure, comprising:
- a. an inflatable envelope having opposed, spaced upper and lower membranes;
- b. a plurality of vertical diaphragms connected between said first and second membranes, said diaphragms being at least semi-elliptical with top and bottom curved edges that diverge from a common point with respect to the major axis of the ellipse, said diaphragms being reinforced vertically and being operable to resolve the vertical component of forces applied to the top of the envelope;
- c. a plurality of upper cables, each upper cable being connected to the top edge of a diaphragm at the junction of the diaphragm and the first membrane;
- d. a plurality of lower cables, each lower cable being connected to the bottom edge of a diaphragm at the junction of the diaphragm and the second membrane;
- e. said upper and lower cables of each diaphragm being connected to each other near the periphery of said envelope;
- f. means for inflating said envelope;
- and
- g. said cables and said diaphragms coacting to carry the load applied to the top of the envelope when inflated.
A pneumatic structure, comprising:
- a. an inflatable envelope having opposed, spaced upper and lower membranes, said envelope, when inflated, being ellipsoidal;
- b. a plurality of vertical diaphragms connected between said first and second membranes, each diaphragm defining a semi-ellipse with top and bottom curved edges that diverge from a common point with respect to the major axis of the ellipse;
- c. a plurality of upper cables, each upper cable being connected to the top edge of a diaphragm at the junction of the diaphragm and the first membrane;
- d. a plurality of lower cables, each lower cable being connected to the bottom edge of a diaphragm at the junction of the diaphragm and the second membrane;
- e. said upper and lower cables of each diaphragm being connected to each other near the periphery of said envelope;
- f. means for inflating said envelope;
- g. a central support, and top and bottom anchor means affixed to the support, the ends of the upper and lower cables remote from the periphery of said envelope being connected to said top and bottom anchor means, respectively, and the diaphragms being connected to said central support;
- and
- h. said cables and said diaphragms coacting to carry the load applied to the top of the envelope when inflated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.