Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;... – Rotatable about vertical axis
Patent
1986-06-25
1987-11-17
Raduazo, Henry E.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Barrier or major section mounted for in situ repositioning;...
Rotatable about vertical axis
52 66, E04B 1346
Patent
active
047064196
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a dome-shaped roof structure and, more particularly, to a dome-shaped roof structure capable of being partly opened according to weather conditions.
BACKGROUND ART
As is generally known, structures for athletic games, such as baseball games and athletic sports, are not provided with the roof so that athletic activities can be practiced in a natural environment. However, without roofs, athletic activities are obliged to be interrupted or to be called off if rain begins to fall during athletic activities or on a rainy day.
Recently, all-weather stadiums have been proposed and roofs, for example, a pneumatic film roof structure, for all-weather stadiums have become the object of attention.
However, the pneumatic film roof structure has the following disadvantages.
First, when an athletic stadium has a roof of a pneumatic film structure formed of films of a synthetic resin or the like, the athletic stadium is filled with pressurized air having a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure, and hence the athletic stadium needs to be sealed so that the pressurized air will not leak to the outside. This requires entrances and exits of a complicated construction for spectators and the like.
Secondly, such an athletic stadium makes internal lighting and ventilation difficult and spoils the enjoyment of practicing or watching athletic sports in a natural environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide dome-shaped roof structure which is capable of being partly opened according to weather conditions for enabling daylighting and ventilation on a fine day so that athletic sports can be practiced in a natural environment or outdoors and for enabling practicing athletic sports in a comfortable condition even on a rainy day, and which is capable of being easily opened and closed.
In order to achieve the object of the invention, the present invention provides an openable dome-shaped roof structure which comprises a dome-shaped stationary roof section fixedly secured at an outer periphery thereof to an external wall constructed on the ground, an opening formed at a substantially central portion of the stationary section, and a plurality of movable roof units corresponding to and capable of covering a plurality of divisions of the central opening, and each being pivotably secured at one end thereof to a support located near the circumference of the central opening. The movable roof units are driven for turning on their pivots to close or to open the central opening.
The movable roof units are opened or closed according to environmental conditions, such as seasonal conditions or weather conditions, whereby a comfortable internal space always may be provided.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of beams are extended radially from the center of the central opening to the circumference of the central opening, and the movable roof units are supported on respective of the beams when closed. A guide member of a circular arc having its center on the junction of each beam and the circumference of the central opening may be provided between the beam and the stationary roof section to guide the respective movable roof unit for turning motion.
In another embodiment of the present invention, movable roof units are arranged along the circumference of the central opening in an alternate up-and-down arrangement so as to support each other. The movable roof units are turned simultaneously to open or close the central opening. In this case, it is preferable to provide each movable roof unit with a guide rail having a predetermined shape and a roller capable of rolling along the guide rail of one of the adjacent movable roof units.
Also disclosed herein is a method for the construction of the stationary roof section of the dome-shaped structure and which comprises the steps of: pivotably securing an outer end of each of a plurality of frame members corresponding to radial divisions of the stationary roof
REFERENCES:
patent: 1841321 (1932-01-01), Arnstein
patent: 3195275 (1965-07-01), Praeger
patent: 3975048 (1976-08-01), Matusek
patent: 4075795 (1978-02-01), Thomas
patent: 4204372 (1980-05-01), Agapyan
patent: 4312157 (1982-01-01), Hertel
patent: 4587775 (1986-05-01), Lewis
Amphitheater Umbrella, Architectural Forum; Nov. 1949, 4 pages, (no page numbers).
Adachi Toshio
Aoyagi Toru
Kawaguchi Akihisa
Yamanaka Shigeki
Ohbayashi-Gumi Ltd.
Raduazo Henry E.
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