AU650594B2 - Car capsule - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 MU AUSTALIARegulation 3,2 Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Q m. he following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best :":'M'ethod of performing it known to me:e .6 1 I* TITLE OF INVENTION: Car Capsule ABSTRACT SUMMARY: A tent-like structure to be used as a carport and comprising of a fabric canopy stretched between two mutually opposing symmetrical frames counterbalanced by guy ropes which pull down and away from the ends of the assembly.

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TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a new design and a new application for tent structures. It is a structure which provides a tent-like alternative to the garage or carport, but can also be used to give weather protection to such outdoor activities as entertaining, dining or clothes drying.

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEMS WITH THE "PRIOR ART": Previously, rigid garage structures or carports were the only building types considered suitable for providing protection for motor vehicles against the elements of weather and environment. These were bulky, "boxy" and unsightly and needed maintenance which was often neglected. Ugly, rusting metal-clad structures still mar the Sstreetscape in many suburbs.

9 Till recent times, tent-like structures were not suitable for carport functions because fabrics were not adequately strong or resistant enough against sunlight and rotting. Even the good quality tents were usually unable to last for more than 12 months if left exposed continuously to direct sunlight or wet weather.

New high strength and light weight fabrics are now being created with compounds that make them resistant to UV rays as well as "rotting in moist conditions. But the difficulty still existed in making a tent structure which would have suitable proportions to house a car without wasteful bulk, as well as being rigid enough and having adequate ventilation.

Stability in large tent structures is difficult to achieve without extensive stabilising with guy ropes which require far greater area than the usable floor space.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION: The invention comprises two curvilinear frames over which is stretched a durable high-strength fabric. The ring-like frames make most efficient structural use of the material because they have no bends or elbows and are therefore not very thick, but extremely strong. Being continuously curved, they distribute all stress most evenly. The fabric is then draped over and attached firmly to the frames to form a double curvature known as a hypar shape or hyperbolic paraboloid. The mid-span bottom anchors provide the *#Gelb: downward tensioning in a transverse direction. The primary tensioning is lengthwise between the "rings" by the use of at least 4 guy ropes. The two primary elements of fabric and frame are thus See.

working together to provide a semi-rigid hypar structure of incredible 460 strength, but with some flexibility. Because the shape is a continuous 6*16 -draining and self-cleaning.

steep double curve, the structure i.s self The bulk of this structure has been reduced by having only 2 solid frame members which counterbalance each other. There is only one pair of guy ropes for each of the frames and these 2 pairs of guy ropes pull away from the central axis until the fabric is fully stretched between the frames. Thus an equilibrium of forces is achieved between the longitudinal resistance of the fabric and the pulling force of the guy ropes. The fabric which is stretched between the frames is made more rigid by the unique double curvature achieved by tensioning _,at mid-span in the opposite direction and anchoring down to the ground. This unique double curvature or hyperbolic paraboloid provides rigidity in all directions and once the correct wrinkle-free shape is achieved there is an optimum and uniform distribution of forces throughout the fabric without high stress points which would wear prematurely. The lack of intermediate frames or supports also prevents excessive stressing of the fabric through friction or point loads.

All this results in optimum durability. Furthermore the mass and strength of the fabric can be minimised as there are no high stress points as in previous designs, meaning that the overall bulk is reduced to a minimum.

a 0 a The fabric connection to the frames is continuous to reduce stresses.

SThe material is wrapped continuously around the tubular frame and pressure retaining rings clipped on at frequent intervals. This allows S: for precise on-site tensioning to achieve the perfect, wrinkle-free double curvature in each site situation which will give maximum go.

strength and durability.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION: 0 o @o 'o a a S To assist with the understanding the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings:

DRAWINGS:

Figs. 1, 2 3 Show simplified 3-dimensional views of the structure according to this invention with a printed -JL v pattern on the membrane fabric.

Figs. 4 5 Show side and end elevations. Additional side panels have been included.

Please note that the end elevation shape is approximate only. Model tests indicate more uniform curvature.

Figs. 6, 7 8 Show an amended form of the invention, comprising an additional ring frame for use in high wind areas.

Fabric must be stable, high strength, non-organic base such as polyester coated with bonded layers of PVC, including UV inhibitors of high quality. This prevents rotting and premature break-down from o a exposure to sunlight. Joints have to be continuously welded, preferable using high frequency welding equipment, although because the contact areas are long, normal heat welding would suffice. The edge attachment to the frame is by a continuous sleeve or by means of shorter strap sections. oo°.

he frame members comprise single tubes or "cluster" of 3 to 5 tubes S of approximately 12 mm diameter each. This enables curvatures to be achieved without the use of heat. The "cluster" pipes are strapped together at 300mm centres after being bent to shape. The tubing material is to be sunlight resistant PVC piping, but copper or aluminium tubing is also able to be used. The number of tubes in each cluster depends on the weight of the fabric selected, the lightest recommended being 500 gms/m 2 7 Ar?~j?~ 6 The ends of the tubes are anchored with one base plate on each side of the structure. The base plates are anchored down with 600mm long hook bolts which are cast into concrete pads where soft soil conditions prevail.

The guy ropes are attached to the ring frames at third points along their length. They are also anchored to the ground with 600mm long hook bolts which are set in concrete pads, if the ground is soft.

Si After the 6 primary anchor points have been secured and the fabric has been subjected to primary tensioning, the best results will be achieved if secondary tensioning is carried out. As shown in Figure 3, a tensioning drawstring is provided inside a sleeve which is welded across the centre of the fabric shape. This should be attached to the main base plate and tensioned sufficiently to eliminate any "flaps" in the fabric.

For extremely high wind areas, a third "ring" frame may be provided for additional support and to allow higher levels of tensioning to be achieved.

A critical aspect of this invention is the creation of the optimum "pattern" or shape for the fabric cover so that no "wrinkling" occurs and so that structural stresses are distributed evenly over the whole frame. Because these stresses depend on the weight of the fabric selected, the most suitable "pattern" will be most easily realised by building a frame prototype to full size and tensioning the fabric and welding it "in-situ. Computer patterning may also be possible if the right software is available.

Claims (2)

1. A car protection canopy comprising: a) two mutually opposing curvilinear frames characterised by having symmetrical aspects and pivoting about a central axis at the join of the frames, said join being at their extremities; b) a fabric cover disposed over the frames and attached thereto; c) longitudinal tensioning means, in the form of guy ropes, attached to the frames, whereby separation of the frames by the tensioning means rotates the frames about the central axis and oo.ooi S results in the fabric being tensioned to it's maximum extent such that an equilibrium is reached; S d) transverse downward tensioning means of the fabric at mid- span to create a double curvature with the geometry of a hyperbolic Sparaboloid which will, together with the longitudinal tensioning means, provide a rigid shape with uniformly distributed stresses.

2. A fabric-covered framed structure as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings, figures 1 to 8 inclusive. DATED THIS FOURTEENTH DAY OF APRIL 1994 MARK KRAWCZYNSKI Name of Applicant