Large span dome
AssigneeTemcor
InventorDonald L. Richter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clear-span dome for athletic stadia and the like includes a primary network of principal structural members which are interconnected to span a space to be covered and to define the principal curvature of the dome. The network members divide the principal curvature into a plurality of openings of selected configuration. The primary network is supported on foundations, around the perimeter of the space, which carry vertical and lateral loads of the dome. Each opening in the primary network is closed by a secondary dome which has its perimeter connected to the network principal members which form the perimeter of the opening. Each secondary dome has a curvature greater than the principal dome curvature. The primary network can be assembled, without use of shoring, from the perimeter of the space toward the center of the overall dome.
Claims22
A dome structure of desired planform perimetral outline adapted to be supported on foundation means along said outline and to provide a clear-span covering over a space bounded by the foundation means, the dome structure comprising
- A. a primary network of interconnected structural members adapted to be supported by the foundation means for spanning the space bounded by the foundation means, for defining a principal curvature of the dome structure, and for dividing the principal curvature into a plurality of openings of selected boundary configuration, and
- B. a corresponding plurality of discrete minor dome assemblies each having a curvature substantially greater than the principal curvature of the dome structure, each minor dome assembly having a perimetral configuration substantially congruent to the boundary configuration of the corresponding opening and connected essentially along the entirety of its perimeter to the primary network for closing the corresponding opening in a weathertight manner.
A dome structure of desired planform perimetral outline adapted to be supported on foundation means along said outline and to provide a clear-span covering over a space bounded by the foundation means, the dome structure comprising
- A. a primary network of interconnected structural members adapted to be supported by the foundation means for spanning the space bounded by the foundation means, for defining a principal curvature of the dome structure, and for dividing the principal curvature into a plurality of openings of selected boundary configuration, and
- B. a corresponding plurality of minor dome assemblies each having a curvature substantially greater than the principal curvature of the dome structure, each minor dome assembly having a perimetral configuration substantially congruent to the boundary configuration of the corresponding opening and connected essentially along the entirety of its perimeter to the primary network for closing the corresponding opening in a weathertight manner,
- C. the minor dome assemblies being comprised of a secondary network of structural members spanning the corresponding primary network openings and dividing the minor dome curvature into a plurality of apertures, and closure means cooperating with the secondary network for closing said apertures.
A dome structure of desired planform perimetral outline adapted to be supported on foundation means along said outline and to provide a clear-span covering over a space bounded by the foundation means, the dome structure comprising
- A. a primary network of structural members adapted to be interconnected in a predetermined manner and to be supported by the foundation means for spanning the space bounded by the foundation means, for defining a principal curvature of the dome structure, for dividing the principal curvature into a plurality of openings of selected boundary configuration, and for carrying to the foundation means loads of and applied to the primary network,
- B. a corresponding plurality of discrete minor dome assemblies each having a curvature substantially greater than the principal curvature of the dome structure, each minor dome assembly having a perimetral configuration substantially congruent to the boundary configuration of the corresponding opening, and each minor dome assembly being connectible essentially along the entirety of its perimeter to the primary network for closing the corresponding opening in a weathertight manner and for transferring to the primary network the load of and applied to the dome assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.