Multi-edged shell structure
OwnerJohn S. Sumnerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for constructing a multi-edged shell surface using elongated strips of wood or other materials. The positioning of the strips and the shaping of the ends of the strips are defined by a procedure employing circumscribed cones.
Claims12
A method of covering a multi-edged spherical surface, the edges of which comprise outwardly leaning great circle arcs, the method comprising the steps of:
- dividing the surface into sectors one associated with each edge of the surface,
- forming conical strips of a building material shaped to simulate, when assembled, the outer periphery of the spherical surface,
- forming the ends of each strip in a given course utilizing a trapezoidal projection so as to adjoin with an adjacent strip in said course,
- assembling the conical strips of each sector in courses commencing with the first course positioned along the edge of the sector formed by the great circle arc, and
- overlapping said first course formed by said conical strip with successively positioned strips of a second course in each sector and continuing said overlapping operation with further courses until the apex of the shell has been reached.
A method of forming the surface of a multi-edge spherical shell the edges of which comprise outwardly leaning great circle arcs, the method comprising the steps of:
- dividing the surface into a number of sectors one associated with each edge of the surface,
- forming different sized cones on an axis of the shell which axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the great circle formed by the outer edge of the sector of the shell,
- the conical surface of each of the cones being tangent with the surface of the sector of the shell at different line contacts around the sector,
- said axis defining along its length circular planes through the sector at said line contacts which are parallel to the plane of said great circle,
- the circular planes defining between their peripheries conical strips,
- segmenting said strips, and
- assembling said strips along each sector of the shell in courses starting with the outer edge of a sector of the shell and progressing to the apex of the sector at substantially the same place on the shell and in the sequence during which they were defined.
A spherically contoured structural shell having three or more edges formed of outwardly leaning great circle arcs comprising:
- a plurality of self supporting, overlapping courses of conically shaped trapezoidal strips, and
- a plurality of edge supports arranged along said edges of said shell wherein each of said edge supports lies along a great circle arc of said spherically contoured shell,
- said edges forming angles at their junctions, the bisectors of which substantially define three or more sectors of said shell, the number of said sectors being equal to the number of said sides, said bisectors defining at their common intersection the apex of said shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.