US 9,334,644 B2 · Retaining membrane on a structure

Abstract

Method for installation and replacement of a membrane and system for retaining membrane on a structure. A connecting member comprises at least one radial channel for receiving a first guiding strip of a membrane sheet further having a second guiding strip. A fastening mechanism is provided for adjusting tension in the sheet by controlling depth at which the connecting member is maintained within a top channel on a truss of the structure. The tension may be adjusted by applying torque to bolted screws maintaining the connecting member into the top channel. Replacing the membrane sheet under tension involves unfastening, at least partially, the connecting member from the top channel to remove tension in the sheet and removing the sheet to be replaced from the connecting member and a second connecting member maintained on another truss.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A system for retaining a membrane on a structure comprising:

(a) a rigid connecting member comprising at least one radial channel for receiving a first guiding strip of a first membrane sheet having the first guiding strip and a second guiding strip;
(b) a truss of the structure;
and
(c) a fastening mechanism for adjusting tension in the first membrane sheet by controlling depth at which the rigid connecting member is maintained within a top channel on the truss, wherein tension is adjusted by adjusting spacing between the rigid connecting member and the top channel, the first membrane sheet being maintained between the top channel and the rigid connecting member;
(d) whereby the at least one radial channel is capable of capturing the first guiding strip prior to the application of tension by the fastening mechanism.

2 more elements

A method for removing a membrane sheet to be replaced on a membrane covered structure, wherein the membrane sheet to be replaced is under a first tension and inserted into a first rigid connecting member fastened in a first top channel of a first truss and a second rigid connecting member fastened to a second truss, the method comprising:

(a) unfastening, at least partially, the first rigid connecting member from the first top channel of the first truss, wherein the membrane sheet to be replaced has a first guiding strip, located on a lateral portion of the first sheet, the first guiding strip inserted into a first radial channel of the first rigid connecting member, wherein tension is adjusted by adjusting spacing between the rigid connecting member and the first top channel, the first radial channel capturing the first guiding strip prior to the application of tension, wherein the membrane sheet is maintained between the first top channel and the first rigid connecting member when the first rigid connecting member is fastened in the first top channel;
(b) removing the first guiding strip of the sheet to be replaced from the first radial channel of the first rigid connecting member;
and
(c) removing a second guiding strip, located on an opposite lateral portion of the membrane sheet to be replaced, from a first radial channel of the second rigid connecting member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Retaining membrane on a structure

Life of this patent

Retaining membrane on a structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27