Frame supported structure with tensioned fabric panels
AssigneeClamshell Partners Ltd.
InventorsRowland D. Hunt, Kenneth Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frame supported structure with fabric panels is formed from a plurality of spaced arched frame members pivotally attached at their lower ends to ground plates. The ground plates are fixed in position prior to erection of the frames. The frames have open slots on each side into which slide beaded or roped edges of the fabric panels. The frames can be erected from or near ground level, and then the fabric panels pulled in along the slots, from ground level. Cranes or scaffolding are not required. After the panels are in position they are tensioned, as by inflating inflatable sections extending for the length of a panel.
Claims43
A frame supported structure comprising;
- ground plate means extending in two parallel lines to form support surfaces in each line spaced a predetermined distance apart and fixedly fastened to the ground;
- a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground plate means to form a plurality of arched spans, the frames pivotally attached at their ends to said ground plate means such that said ends are spaced apart by said predetermined distance;
- each frame having a transverse cross-section including a web section extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the frame span;
- a flange at the outer end of the web section extending laterally on each side at the outer end of the web section;
- and an enclosed groove extending the length of the frame on each side of said web section at said flange, a slot extending through a wall of each groove to provide communication therewith;
- a fixed length rigid spacer connected between adjacent frames, said rigid spacer being pivoted to said adjacent frames and having a length equal to said predetermined distance such that said adjacent frames and said rigid spacer form an articulated parallelogram with said ground plate means and such that said adjacent frames can be pivoted about said ground plate means and always remain parallel to each other;
- a fabric panel extending between each pair of adjacent frames, each panel including a beaded edge along each side, the beaded edges being positioned in said grooves and the panel extending through said slots;
- tensioning means extending lengthwise in each panel and adapted to tension said panels after attachment of said panels to said frames.
A frame supported structure comprising:
- means for providing a ground support;
- a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground support means to torm a plurality of arched spans;
- means for maintaining said frames in spaced relation to each other;
- a plurality of fabric panels, each fabric panel extending between and attached to a pair of adjacent frames;
- tensioning means extending lengthwise in said panel and adapted to tension said panel after attachment to said adjacent frames, comprising an inflatable portion attached to said panel and positioned between said adjacent frames, said inflatable portion having opposite sides attached to spaced portions of said panel such that, as said inflatable portion is inflated, said spaced portions are drawn together to tension said panel.
A method of erecting a frame supported structure, comprising;
- positioning a plurality of frame supports in two parallel rows, the frame supports being at predetermined relative positions and spacings on a ground surface;
- fastening the frame supports immovably to the ground surface;
- pivotally attaching a plurality of arched frames at their ends to said frame supports, said frames being at substantially ground level and having their ends spaced by a predetermined distance equal to said predetermined spacing;
- pivotally attaching rigid spacers having a length equal to said predetermined distance between adjacent frames such that said adjacent frames, rigid spacers and frame supports define articulated parallelograms in which said frames remain parallel when pivoted upward from said ground surface;
- pulling said frames upward from the ground surface with said frames remaining parallel to each other;
- positioning fabric panels between each pair of adjacent frames by sliding beaded edges on each side of a panel through grooves in said frames;
- tensioning said panels when in position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.