AU593522B2

AU593522B2 - Improvements in and relating to building structures

Info

Publication number: AU593522B2
Application number: AU26277/84A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Ross Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-30
Filing date: 1984-03-30
Publication date: 1990-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2004-03-30
Also published as: AU2627784A

Description

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593522 COMMONWEALTH OF AU S T R A L I A PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority:

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Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: COLIN ROSS ALLEN

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1 Bournemout' Terrace, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand COLIN ROSS ALLEN Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete specification for the invention entitled: "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BUILDING STRUCTURES" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us- 1

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1 '1 2 The present invention relates to a modular reticular bearing structure for domed shelters.

Various reticular bearing structures for the construction of domed shelters are known, produced by connecting together at the ends various rods assembled in a grid arrangement.

Such known structures have a number of disadvantages, however, including that of difficulty in erection, which often demands the use of scaffolding and supporting frameworks.

Furthermore, reticular structures in use today demand S the use of a considerable quantity of material, so that they are heavy and expensive and, once built, they cannot, in general, be extended or reduced in size in accordance with needs which may arise later.

The object of this present invention is to provide a reticular bearing structure for domed shelters which can be easily and quickly erected, which calls for a minimal use of material, which is of low cost and still has considerable strength, which is suited to very varied requirements and is capable of being subsequently easily extended or reduced to comply with various requirements of use.

Iu is a further object of this invention to come some *44tt way in overcoming the abovementioned problems or at least.provide the public with a useful choice.

CLOther objecLs of Lhis inventWin -ill-"u .the following description '4to ono aspect of this invontion, thore is pro"ided

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1 3- According to the present invention, there is provided a modular reticular bearing structure framework used in the formation of dome shelters of rectangular plan, the structure comprising a first, a second, a third and a fourth plurality of modular substantially isosceles triangular frames formed by a grid-like shell of outwardly curved section, said grid-like shell having polygonal meshes with their sides formed by oblique rigid strut-shaped elements 4* of equal length, one joined to another at their ends by connecting joints, and being capable of being I inscribed in a portion of a circular cylinder, said oblique strut-shaped elements being capable of being inscribed in crossed geodetic lines following a cylindric helix with constant pitch, said first plurality of frames extending upwardly from a first It horizontal base line, said second plurality of frames and said third plurality of frames extending upwardly, respectively from second and third horizontal base lines which are parallel to one another, perpendicular to said first base line and extend from ends thereof, said fourth plurality of i frames extending upwardly from a fourth base line E C -which is parallel to said first base line, perpendicular to said second and third base lines and extends between other ends of said second and third base lines, fusiform areas being positioned and Appl. 26277/84 S1st Stat. Prop. Amend.

25/1/89

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~e -3Aengaged by connecting means attached to adjacent frame portions at respective corners of the structure; the constant pitch of the crossed geodetic lines following a cylindrical helix where the said oblique strut-shaped elements are developed, is at least four times the radius of the generating cylinder of the same geodetic lines.

Further according to the present invention, there is provided a structure having a reticular framework, said structure having a rectangular plan, "four corners and four walls, which extend upwardly from respective horizontal base lines, each of said Swalls being formed of at least one modular substantially-isosceles triangular frame having a generally cylindrical-convex outwardly facing curvature, each of said frames constituting a S. grid-like shell of polygonal meshes, the sides of which are formed by rigid strut-shaped rods of equal length joint at their ends by connecting joints, each of said four corners being defined by respective fusiform area between adjacent ones of said four walls; strut shaped connection elements connecting said modular triangular frame of one wall to the S" closest adjacent modular triangular frame of the adjacent wall, said connecting elements connecting across said fusiform areas.

Appl. 26277/84 1st Stat. Prop. Amend.

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ili -3B- Since the modular frames can be assembled together, domed shelters can be very easily constructed in which all the oblique rod-like elements are inscribed in geodetic lines following a helical course, so as to produce a considerable resistance with a minimum use of material.

Considerable flexibility is provided in use of the modular frames to produce light economic structures of very different types following architectural designs which can be varied according to desire or requirements.

The invention will now be described with reference to a number of embodiments, these embodiments are not exclusive and are shown with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 9* 99 9 9 *r 4 tc Figure 1: is a perspective view of a triangular modular frame suitable for making a reticular structure according to the invention.

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25/1/89 -m"?si3 4 C C C C t Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7: Figure 8: Figure 9: Figure 10: Figure 11: Figure 12: Figure 13: Figure 14: Figure '15: is a front view of the frame of Figure 1.

is a side view oa the frame of Figure 1.

is a perspective view of the frame as per the previous figures equipped with tie-rods to strengthen the reticular meshes.

is a front view of the frame of Figure 4.

is a side view of the frame of Figure 4.

is a perspective view of a triangular modular frame with a double grid-like shell, suitable for making a reticular structure according to the invention.

is a side view of the frame of Figure 7.

is a perspective view of a reticular structure, according to the invention, which is rectangular in plan.

is a plan view of another form of embodiment of reticular structure, according to the invention, which is rectangular in plan.

is a side view of the structure of Figure is a front view of the structure of Figure is a cross section accomplished in conformance with line XIII-XIII of Figure is a plan view of another embodiment of the reticular structure, according to the invention, which is rectangular in plan.

is a plan view of a reticular structure, according to the invention, which is square in plan.

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c C C $1 CC c Figure 16: is an elevational view of the structure of Figure Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3, there is provided a modular frame of curved section, indicated at 1, having a periphery which is substantially an equilateral triangle, of which one side 2 is straight and the other sides, 3, 4 are arcs.

In use, side 2 is arranged horizontally, while sides 3 and 4 assume an inclined position.

Frame 1 is a grid-like shell, consisting of rigid equilateral triangular meshes, which are all equal, formed from rods 5 of equal length interconnected at their ends, such rods being preferably of metal, although they can be made of any other material.

In Figures 1,2 and 3, the frame 1 consists of a total of nine triangular meshes (each side having three rods but it is, of course, possible to form frames with a variable number I of meshes by arranging, for example, four or more rods on each S. side of frame 1.

In -use, some rods 5 are placed horizontally, while other rods are placed obliquely; the latter ones are inscribed in geodetic lines following a helical course and at constant speed, the median vertical section of the frame .1 being inscribed in a circular arc.

Preferably, the rods 5 forming sides 2,3 and 4 of frame 1 have larger sections than the'Internal rods, so that the assembly I will have greater strength.

-6- 6 Assembling a number of frames 1, produces reticular bearing structures with square or rectangular plan.

In particular, by connecting four frames 1 so that the respective vertices are connected together at the apex, a square plan bearing structure can be formed (the base being shown by the broken line in Figure 1).

A reticular rectangular plan structure can, on the other hand, be made up by combining eight frames 1, as illustrated in Figure 9, by arranging one frame for each front section and three aligned frames for each side section. The latter is formed of two frames 1 erected with the vertices at the top and another intermediate frame 1 erected with the vertex at the bottom.

By using further frames i, the structure can be lengthened later, if required.

The structure thus formed is very light and can be easily erected by means of simple lifting equipment, while the domed it shelter can be made in any style, using simple canvases or rigid infull, suitably applied in accordance with the various meshes.

Horizontal connecting rods can be filled at the corners, as indicated at 7 in Figure 9.

In an alternative construction, not only sides 3 and 4 of the frame 1, but also the base 2, can be of arcuate shape.

Frames 1 can furthermore be provided' with a vertical median section inscribed -in a quarter of a circle, so as to form bearing structures with semi-circular cross sections, as shown in Figures 10 to 16.

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*4 *P 4 In particular, Figures 10 to 13 show a reticular structure rectangular in plan, consisting of eight frames la, which are linked similarly to frames 1 of Figure 9. Frame la has a vertical median section inscribed in a quadrant and a larger number of meshes than frame 1.

Similarly as shown in the structure of Figure 9, the sides of the structure shown in Figures 10 to 13 each consist of three frames la which are interaligned.

The cross section of the resulting structure (Figure 13) is a semi-circle.

In Figure 14, there is shown, as seen from above, a rectangular plan structure of shorter length than that shown in Figures 10 to 13; the reduction in length is achieved by eliminating meshes from the sides.

As shown in Figures 15 and 16, a square-base structure is provided, obtained by connecting four frames la having a vertical median section in the form of a quadrant. The frames la are erected with the respective vertices joined at the apex.

Horizontal connecting rods 7 (Figures 10 to 16) are fitted to the corners of the structure in a similar manner as provided in the structure shown in Figure 9. Additional rods 7a can be fitted to the corners for greater rigidity (Figures 10 to 161.

According to an alternative construction, the grid structure of the abovementioned frames can also be obtained with rhomboidal rather than triangular meshes, thus eliminating the need for the horizontal rods The various modular frames can furthermore be equipped 42*, Si

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*t 4 LL YI L -8with reinforcing tie-rods 8 (Figures 4 to 6 and 10 to 13).

These reinforcing tie-rods 8 can be clearly seen in Figures 4 to 6, which illustrate the same frame 1 as shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, and on which the same tie-rods were fitted, arranged in vertical planes and linking the connectors 6 of adjacent meshes. Very strong frames are achieved in this manner.

To achieve even greater strength, frames with a double grid-like shell are provided, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Each of these frames is obtained by placing alongside and parallel to the frame shown in Figures 1,2, and 3, a further similar frame, the two frames being firmly connected together by means of spacing rods 9, fitted in relation to the C connectors 6.

I Also, in this latter case, it is possible to erect tierods 8 in a manner similar as shown in Figures 4,5 and 6.

Obviously the double grid-like shell frames can also be formed with any desired number of meshes. It is further possible to from frames with three or more grid-like shells being arranged side by side.

As can be seen, the reticular structure of the invention is very light and at the same time rigid and permits easy construction of buildings and unlimited uses, by employing individual structural elements taking little space and of low cost, permitting easy assembling and disassembling, and which structural elements can be handled without particular machinery and large labor forces.

i The distribution of the forces takes place in a very rational manner, in particular with regard to the disposition r ,2 9 of the inclined sides of the single triangular modular frames 1, la, second geodetic lines, following a helical course, cross-linked among them, while the various reticular connections are capable of transferring the suitable forces from a connector 6 to another one by means of double curvature.

Of course, the invention is not limited solely to the examples above described, but numerous modifications and variations are possible -alel ef i within the scope of the-iei- .c v; alT.

Thus, for example, the reticular structure can assume, in plan, various polygonal configurations.

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Claims

1. A modular reticular bearing structure framework used in the formation of dome shelters of rectangular plan, the structure comprising a first, a second, a third and a fourth plurality of modular substantially isoscele, -iangular frames formed by a grid-like shell of outwardly curved section, said grid-like shell having polygonal meshes with their sides formed by oblique rigid strut-shaped elements of equal length, one joined to another at their ends by connecting joints, and being capable of being inscribed in a portion of a circular cylinder, said oblique strut-shaped elements being capable of being inscribed in crossed geodetic lines following a cylindric helix with constant pitch, said first plurality of frames extending upwardly from a first horizontal base line, said second plurality of frames and said third plurality of frames extending upwardly, respectively from second and third horizontal base lines which are parallel to one another, perpendicular to said first base line and extend from ends thereof, said fourth plurality of frames extending upwardly from a fourth base line which is parallel to said first base line, perpendicular to said second and third base lines and extends between other ends of said second and third base lines, fusiform areas being positioned and engaged by connecting means attached to adjacent frame portions at respective corners of the structure; the constant pitch of the crossed geodetic lines following a cylindrical helix where the said oblique strut-shaped elements are developed, is at least four times the radius of the-generating cylinder of the same geodetic lines.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in v.iu:ch each triangular modular frame has a straight base side arranged horizontally during the erection thereof with the other sides curvea according to said configuration following a at aa ai a C aa ct ''a cylindric helix,' s; cylinder of the sc

3. A structure ac has a periphery s equilateral trianj horizontally afte circular cylinder, lines following a

4. A structure ac has a periphery c than said strut-s

5. A sructure acc arranged in verti4

6. A reticular str vertical plane an< said meshes.

7. A reticular str frames consists o spacer elements.

8. A structure ha rectangular plan, respective horizo one modular subs cylindrical-conve constituting a gri formed by rigid s Appl. 26277/84 1st Stat. Prop. Amnd. 25/1/89 i WI_ I_ II^ cylindric helix,' said base side being two times the radius of the generating cylinder of the same cylindric helix. 3. A structure according to claim 1, in which each triangular modular frame has a periphery shaped as an equilateral triangle and its grid is formed by equilateral triangle equal meshes, each mesh having a side arranged horizontally after the erection according to the generating lines of the said circular cylinder, and the other oblique sides inscribed in the said geodetic lines following a helix. 4. A structure according to claim 1, in which each triangular modular frame has a periphery consisting of ,trut-shaped elements of greater cross section than said strut-shaped elements forming said polygonal meshes. A sructure according to claim 1, further comprising reinforcing tie-rods arranged in vertical planes and connecting together at least some of the joints. 6. A reticular structure according to claim I, comprising tie-rods arranged in a vertical plane and connecting between them at least some of the vertices of said meshes. 7. A reticular structure according to claim 1, in which each of said modular frames consists of two parallel grid-like shells fastened together by means of spacer elements. 8. A structure having a reticular framework, said structure having a rectangular plan, four corners and four walls, which extend upwardly from respective horizontal base lines, each of said walls being formed of at least one modular substantially-isosceles triangular frame having a generally cylindrical-convex outwardly facing curvature, each of said frames constituting a grid-like shell of polygonal meshes, the sides of which are formed by rigid strut-shaped rods of equal length joint at their ends by Appl. 26277/84 1st Stat. Prop. Amend. ©S 25/1/89 0 lJ r -12- connecting joints, each of said four corners being defined by respective fusiform area between adjacent ones of said four walls; strut shaped connection elements connecting said modular triangular frame of one wall to the closest adjacent modular triangular frame of the adjacent wall, said connecting elements connecting across said fusiform areas.

9. A structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 a 4* 0. a 4. DATED this 25th day of Janaury, 1989 COLIN ROSS ALLEN By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON A A a a. A a a i* Appl. 26277/84 1st Stat. Prop. Amend. 25/1/89 i~ i