Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-09-04
Stephan, Beth A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure
C052S002230, C052S002240, C052S002220, C052S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282843
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pneumatic structure in the form of a barrel roof which is adapted to be provided over the entirety or a portion of a working or living space, such as a work site for maintaining or painting a watercraft, a construction site, a temporary site for an exhibition, or a stadium, and permits activity even under rain or snow. In particular, the invention relates to a pneumatic structure which is light and is capable of bearing a wind or snow load.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rain or snow often interrupts an outside work which decreases the efficiency of the work. However, there are cases in which the schedule cannot be delayed. Thus, in order to ensure a working or living space such as a work site for maintaining and painting a watercraft, a construction site, a temporary site for an exhibition, or a stadium, and to permit activity even under rain or snow (in the following description, “working or living space” is referred to as “working space”), pneumatic structures in the form of a barrel roof have been developed. Such pneumatic structures include one for semi-permanent use and one for temporary use.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-144382, which was filed on Jun. 4, 1998 by the applicant, describes a pneumatic structure for temporary use. The pneumatic structure includes outer and inner sheets or membranes connected by reinforcement sheets or membranes in the form of ribs, which define a plurality of air compartments into which compressed air is introduced to inflate the structure. The partition walls include openings which allow air to flow between the air compartments.
The pneumatic structure of the prior art is capable of protecting a working space from rain, but heavy snow and gales, for example winds over 10 m/sec collapse the pneumatic structure. This problem is serious in case of a large structure since the larger the structure, the larger the snow or wind load on the structure.
In addition to the above problems, in order to provide a larger working space, a larger pneumatic structure is required. This increases the weight and the labor for transportation, installation, and deinstallation of the structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to solve the problems of the prior art, and to provide a pneumatic structure improved to facilitate transportation, installation, and deinstallation even if the size of the structure is increased.
The objective of the invention is also to provide a pneumatic structure improved to increase its strength against snow or wind loads.
The invention provides a pneumatic structure in the form of a barrel roof which has openings at the opposite ends thereof. The pneumatic structure comprises outer and inner walls of a sheet or membrane material connected by a plurality of partition walls in the form of ribs provided therebetween to define a plurality of air compartments in the form of ribs between the outer and inner walls; the partition walls including a plurality of openings for fluid communication between adjacent air compartments.
According to another feature of the invention, there is provided a pneumatic structure assembly in the form of a barrel roof which has openings at the opposite ends thereof. The pneumatic structure assembly comprises at least two pneumatic structure portions which are connected to each other at the ends of the respective structure portions. Each of the pneumatic structures comprises outer and inner walls of a sheet or membrane material connected by a plurality of partition walls in the form of ribs provided therebetween to define a plurality of air compartments in the form of ribs between the outer and inner walls; and an abutment, provided at an end of the structure portion, for contacting the abutment portion of the other pneumatic structure portion when the two pneumatic structure portions are connected to each other. The partition walls including a plurality of openings for fluid communication between adjacent air compartments.
The pneumatic structure has specific dimensions defined as follows.
1.20≦b/a≦1.35
1.10≦d/c≦1.35
0.2≦a/c≦0.5
where
a: the maximum opening width of the pneumatic structure;
b: the total width of the pneumatic structure;
c: the effective height (between ground and the maximum height of the inner wall; and
d: the total height (between ground and the maximum height of the outer wall.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1961523 A (1970-09-01), None
patent: 2044871 (1980-10-01), None
patent: 2135354 A (1984-08-01), None
patent: 60-242269 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 5-5025 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 9-144382 (1997-06-01), None
Aoyagi Hiroshi
Hisada Toshiak
Saika Isamu
Sato Koji
Sekiya Yoshifusa
Dorsey Dennis L.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
Stephan Beth A.
Teijin Limited
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