Supported canopy

In a canopy structure of the type having a support structure and an openable canopy extending from the support structure, a canopy operator comprising:

• a conduit system including a plurality of stiffenable tubes extending along the portion of the openable canopy to be supported;
• a supply of cluster solids in the stiffenable tubes;
• and
• means for changing the pressure in the conduit system to cause said stiffenable tubes to stiffen and relax, said pressure changing means being on said support structure and in communication with the conduit.

A supported canopy structure comprising:

• a support structure;
• an openable canopy attached to the support structure;
• a conduit system associated with said openable canopy to support the openable canopy, the conduit system including a plurality of stiffenable tubes extending along the openable canopy;
• a supply of hydraulic fluid in the conduit system;
• and
• means for changing the pressure in the conduit system, said pressure changing means being on said support structure and in fluid communication with the conduit system, said pressure changing means including a hydraulic piston on the support structure;
• wherein the stiffenable tubes stiffen with an increase in pressure in the conduit system to open the openable canopy.

A supported canopy structure comprising:

• a support structure;
• an openable canopy attached to the support structure;
• a conduit system associated with said canopy to support said canopy, the conduit system comprising a plurality of stiffenable tubes extending along the openable canopy;
• a supply of cluster solids in the conduit system;
• and
• means for changing the pressure in the conduit system, said pressure changing means being on said support structure and in communication with the conduit system;
• wherein the stiffenable tubes stiffen with a decrease in pressure in the conduit system to open the openable canopy.

A supported canopy structure comprising:

• a support structure;
• an openable canopy attached to the support structure;
• a plurality of stiffenable tubes extending along the openable canopy;
• a supply of electrorheological fluid in the tubes;
• and
• means for changing an electrical field through each of the tubes to selectively change the stiffness of the stiffenable tubes.

A supported canopy structure comprising:

• an openable canopy;
• a plurality of stiffenable members extending along portions of the openable canopy, the stiffenable members exhibiting different stiffnesses under different physical conditions;
• at least one support rod extending alongside at least one of the stiffenable members;
• means for changing the physical conditions to which the stiffenable members are exposed to selectively change the stiffness of the stiffenable members.