AU593796B2 - Inflatable building structure - Google Patents

Description

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This document contains the amendments made under Section 49-and is correct for printing.

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41 The Patents Act 1952-1969 lexIpla vS Name of Applicant: -GFEMAL-T-9N-WAPWERMARKE-T-RS-PT-T Y-=D Address of Applicant: HOPELAND-NURSERY,-M.TST2-47-GGGWGGMABA c/4dcMor-s, wez-el uc Pra4k, s I Jes-t S-re e4, Jh, N&retENL.AND-,--4-B3-5-2- S -e q00 SDV D se Actual Inventor: DAVID DOUGLAS PLANT Address for service: CULLEN HALFORD MAXWELL Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys Medibank Building 82 Ann Street BRISBANE. QLD. 4001.

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: INFLATABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us:

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iv1/ _I I--il LIII_----~l~p~ee" THIS INVENTION relates to an inflatable building structure comprising a plurality of support posts and an inflatable roof. The building structure is especially adapted for use as a greenhouse, fernhouse or building mainly utilized for the propagation of plants. However it will be appreciated that the building structure of the invention may be utilized for any other suitable purpose such as storage of perishable food articles s~ c~ cs pcaV\s- or pis c~\I~e erwir-onnmeyk.

Hitherto building structures for plants are usually time consuming to erect especially conrTentional greenhouses which are used for large scale commercial growing of plants which require abundant exposure to light and appropriate insulation so as to maintain a controlled temperature within the greenhouse. The greenhouse was usually constructed in 15 accordance with standard building practice wherein a basic *4*I e frame was first erected and then transparent panels usually *tot t, formed from glass were attached thereto to form both the If~ C roof and the walls of the greenhouse. The basic frame in requiring usually girders, beams and welding so as to interconnect adjacent frame members was expensive and time consuming in erection time. The addition of glass panels was also expensive and time consuming. However, because of the necessity to admit light normally in conventional greenhouses the roof could not be satisfactorily insulated c 25 and thus such greenhouses were prone to heat loss at night.

Thus in order to maintain a controlled temperature it was usually necessary to utilize relatively expensive Senvironment control equipment within the criterion of the r

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greenhouses such as auxiliary heating systems. Thus it was also to be appreciated that conventional commercial greenhouses were relatively expensive to maintain. In order to avoid heat loss sometimes the glass panels were painted to convert them from being transparent to become translucent.

However this was usually only a temporary solution and it was difficult to remove the paint from the glass panels.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inflatable building structure and process for erection of same which alleviates the abovementioned disadvantages of the prior art referred to above.

9a*t An inflatable building structure according to the invention comprises: a row of support posts on opposed sides of said structure each having an upper free end and the other end located at a fixed ground location; a roof structure formed from at least one inflatable S"tt membrane and having opposed sides supported at the free ends of said support posts; A tensioned support cable means supported at the free 'ends of said support posts and extending between the rows of support posts and further supporting said at least one f^ inflatable membrane; said structure being further characterised by being erected by initially disposing said at least one infatable membrane on the ground between said rows of said support posts with said

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t t 3a opposed sides parallel to said rows of support posts elevating said at least one infatable membrane when said supports are installed in a substantially upright position, or said at least one inflatable membrane and the free ends of said support posts, where said support posts are initially installed in a horizontal position with said other ends pivotally attached at ground level and the said free ends are located inwardly of said other ends, by hoisting cables attached to said at least one infatable membrane in the first alternative and attached to said support posts in the second alternative whereby said at least one infatable membrane is elevated to form the roof of said inflatable building structure and supported at the free ends of said support posts and tensioning said support cables to further support said at least one infatable membrane when inflated.

Preferably the roof structure is formed from one or more roof membranes formed from transparent or at least translucent material wherein the roof membrane comprises an upper membrane usually in the form of a sheet and a lower membrane also usually in the form of a sheet which may be attached thereto along mutually adjacent side edges. In one form usually a suitable membrane may have a pair of opposed side edges wherein the side edges are each attached to each ij .cr -xI:"L 7 i i i 1

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other or to a gutter member or other appropriate rigid member. When a plurality of membranes is being utilized the roof structure may comprise a pair of outer gutter members or rigid peripheral members and a number of membranes interposed therebetween with adjacent membranes being interconnected by intermediate gutter members or intermediate rigid members.

However it will be appreciated that the inflatable membrane may be in form of an inflatable bag or mattress or other suitable integral structure. The adoption of an upper membrane and lower membrane is convenient because each membrane may have mutually adjacent edges which are attached to each other before being attached to an associated gutter member or rigid member. In this arrangement usually each 15 adjacent side edge of lower membrane and upper membrane is attached to each other in the form of a continuous bead which then may be retained in a suitable supporting groove or slot in the gutter member or rigid member. However, it will also be appreciated that the adjacent edges of both upper membrane and lower membrane may be separate from each other before attachment to the gutter member or rigid member. However the former arrangement is preferred.

The roof structure as discussed above in@49( in a first embodiment may be placed or located in conjunction with the plurality of support posts such that the roof structure or roof structure component defined by a pair of gutter members or rigid members is initially laid on

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When the hoisting cables are elevated by appropriate means such as a winch hauling the cables upwardly over appropriate guide means such as pulleys located atop the support posts the roof structure or portion thereof which was initially in a slack or loose condition when laid on the Sground may then assume a taut attitude. The gutter members or rigid members may then be.mounted on or supported by mounting 10 brackets attached on the support posts adjacent the pulleys.

SThe pulleys and hoisting cables may then be removed and the roof membrane or membranes inflated by appropriate means. In one embodiment an inflating duct or pipe may communicate with the interior of the membrane and air may be pumped in by an a 15 air blower or fan.

There also may be utilized one or more support cables for the membranes when inflated and these support cables may extend between adjoining posts in such a manner that are orientated transversely to longitudinal rows of posts as illustrated hereinafter.

The support posts may be arranged in a matrix or grid pattern when viewed in plan so that a plurality of rows of posts are arranged which extend longitudinally or lengthwise of the grid at spaced intervals which are substantially the same in each row. However, this is not essential and any suitable pattern may be utilized.

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Usrally the grid may be substantially rectangular although ny other suitable grid shape is utilized.

Suitably there are used corner posts, a plurality of peripheral posts located between a respective pair of corner posts with the remainder of the posts being interior posts.

The posts may have any suitable cross sectional shape such as being L shaped, substantially box section or may even be in the form of I beams. Preferably however each post may be channel shaped or substantially box section depending upon its location.

The gutter members may be of any suitable shape such as being channel shaped. The gutter members after step may be held fast or secured appropriately to the top of ~the posts by being bolted to the aforementioned mounting *0o* 0 15 brackets. There also may be applied gutter members along Sr the periphery of the grid if desired.

The support posts may be stayed or braced.

Preferably brace members extend between adjacent peripheral or interior posts. The brace members may extend diagonally between adjacent posts. The peripheral posts may be stayed as well as braced and thus stays may extend downwardly from the top of each peripheral post and have an end anchored to the ground. Both brace members and stays may be formed by C rigid frame members or rigid cables which may be tensioned.

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The inflatable building structure of the invention may also include appropriate peripheral closure members which may be in the form of curtain members. Thus there may be provided curtain members at both sides of the building I 7.

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structure and at each end thereof which may be selectively raised or lowered so as to control the interior temperature of the building structure. Any appropriate control means to effect raising or lowering of the side curtain members may be utilized such as a winch actuated by suitable gearing means.

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4 44 44 4 4 4 4* 4 4 4 4444 *444 rI 3-~ CCl In a variation on the foregoing it will also be appreciated that only the side or end curtain members are selectively lowered or raised with the remainder of the curtain members being fixed or rigid installations.

The control means for effecting raising or lowering of the curtain members may also be thermostatically actuated. In this embodiment a thermostat located inside the building structure may be set at an optimum interior 15 temperature. If the actual temperature exceeds or drops below the optimum interior temperature the thermostat may be electrically connected to the electric motor of the winch so as to reverse the polarity thereof which will cause upward or downward movement of the curtains as the case may be so 20 as to change the interior temperature to the optimum value.

In a second embodiment of the invention there may be utilized an erection process using a rectangular array of posts so as to define two opposed rows of end support posts and two opposed rows of side support posts. The end posts may be installed in an upright orientation in the ground and the side posts may be left lying on the ground. An integral assembly of roof membrane(s) optionally together with side curtains may then be attached to the tops of the side 1 i ;i t 4( i tttT 8.

'posts. In this arrangement there may be provided rigid peripheral members of the roof assembly which are clipped onto or otherwise attached to the tops of the side posts.

Suitably the side posts are hingedly attached to an appropriate base structure and there also is a winch cable support member releasably attached to the side posts. The arrangement is such that the side posts may be winched upwardly so as to be oriented vertically with the roof membrane(s) attached thereto. The winch cable support member may then be removed from the side posts which are then secured into position by securing cables. The end posts may also have end curtain members attached thereto so as to finalize installation of the greenhouse structure in this second embodiment.

15 Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein: FIGS 1-4 are schematic illustrations of a first embodiment of the process of the invention; FIGS 5-6 are plan and front views of a one type of inflatable building structure constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the inavention; FIGS 7-8 are plan and front views of another type of inflatable building structure constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; 25 FIG 9 is a corner perspective view of the building structure shown in FIGS 5-6; FIG 10 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the structure as indicated by arrow A in FIG 9; tf ic r C (I:

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FIG 10A is a detailed view of the attachment structure attaching the roof membrane to the gutter member; FIG 11 is a similar view to FIG 10 showing the structure indicated by arrow B in FIG 9; FIGS 12-17 are schematic illustrations of the second embodiment of the invention showing the installation process; FIG 18 is a side perspective view of an inflatable building structure constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention; FIG 19 is an end perspective view of the structure shown in FIG 18; FIG 20 is a corner perspective view of the structure shown in FIG 18; FIG 21 is a detailed view of the anchor post used for supporting the end curtain members in FIG 19; FIG 22 is a detailed view of the anchor structure used for supporting the support cables shown in FIG 18; and FIG 23 is a detailed view of the anchor structure for the corner bracing of the structure shown in FIG 18.

In FIGS 1-4 the process of the invention is illustrated in relation to the erection or installation procedure of the building structure of the invention.

Support posts 10 are first embedded in the ground 11 by appropriate means such as being embedded in a concrete block 12. A roof component 13 comprising a pair of opposed gutter members 14 and a roof inflatable membrane interposed between each gutter member 14 is laid on the

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*000 4 0*04 4040 000 *4 0 4 0 44 0r 0 40F *e ground 11 between a pair of support 111,ts 10. Hoisting cables 16 are attached to each gutter member 14 and are attached to pulleys 17 located on the top of support posts Support posts 10 are also braced by stays 18. There is also shown support cables 19 and 20 for roof components 13 which initially as shown in FIG 1 are in a slack attitude.

Upon actuation of a winch (not shown) hoisting cables 16 may be pulled through pulleys 17 and thus elevate roof component 13 as shown in FIG 2 until gutter members 14 are mounted on mounting brackets 21. Cables 19 and 20 may also be tensioned by appropriate tensioning means such as a turnbuckle or the like (not shown) until they assume a taut attitude as shown in FIGS 2-3. Lift chains 22 may also be used to elevate gutter members 14 to be mounted on mounting brackets 21. Lift chains 22 may be elevated by a crane (not shown) or other suitable elevating means.

Once gutter members 14 are supported by mounting brackets 21 they then may be inflated as shown in FIG 4 by appropriate means such as an inflating pipe 23 which may 20 communicate with the interior of membrane 15. Inflating pipe 23 may have a control butterfly valve 24 and motor driving impeller 26. Inflating pipe 23 may be supported by suitable supports 27.

In FIGS 5-8 the arrangement of posts 10 is 25 illustrated. In the embodiment of FIGS 5-6 only one membrane 15 is utilized between longitudinal rows 28 of support posts 10. In the embodiment of FIGS 7-8 a plurality (ie. three) membranes are utilized wherein each membrane

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is located between the series of longitudinal rows 28.

Also shown are end peripheral posts 10A located in one end or front of the building structure and clearly the spacing between internal posts 10B is very much greater than between end peripheral posts Peripheral posts 10A are also braced by stays 18 as is the case with side peripheral posts In FIG 9 there is shown membrane 15 which may comprise an upper membrane 29 and lower membrane 30. The side edges of upper membrane 29 and lower membrane 30 may be attached to gutter members 14 and between adjacent gutter members 14 of mutually adjoining membranes there may be provided a gap 32 covered by cover member 33. Between adjacent end peripheral posts 10A there may be provided 15 diagonally oriented braces 34 and 35 as shown as well as between corner posts 10 and side peripheral post 10C. There is also shown ground supports 31 in the form of spikes or pegs to which are attached stays 18 as well as support cables 19 and In FIG 10 there is shown rigid pipes 37 for cables 19 and 20 which enable cables 19 and 20 to have a relatively gentle curve or radius before assuming a horizontal orientation as shown. Support post 10C is of substantially channel cross sectional shape having slot 36 and return flanges 38 Brackets 21 are bolted to support post 10C by flanges 38.Brces2arbotdtsuprpst1Cy bolts 39. Upon assuming a horizontal orientation cables 19 and 20 may have plastics sleeves 40. Gutter 14 may have return flanges 41. As shown gutters 14 are supported by Cf iit i 1 -d i

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£Y t *0 I A AS A Q ,uA 1 t 41 A t A brackets 21. There is also provided extrusion members 42 of substantially U-shaped cross-section which include a slot or groove 43 for retention of a continuous bead 44 which secures the curtain membrane forming upper membrane 29 and lower membrane 30 in place. Bead 44 may secure mutually adjacent side edges of membranes 29 or 30 or alternatively a common strip of membranes 29 or 30 in place in slot 43. A detailed view of this arrangement is shown in FIG 10A. Also shown is extrusion support member 42A of substantially I0 10 rectangular cross section. Also shown is cable clamp 45 and grommet 46.

In FIG 11 there is shown internal post 10B having fixed mounting 47 to footing 12 and bolts 48 attaching mounting 47 to post 10B. Also shown are tabs 49 and attached to gutter members 14. Tabs 49 together with associated apertures 51 are used as attachment locations for pulleys 17 discussed earlier. Tabs 50 together with associated apertures 52 are used for attachment locations for chains 22 discussed earlier.

20 In the process of the second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS 12-17 initially a rectangular array of posts is formed with two opposed rows of end posts 53 supported in the ground and two adjacent rows of side posts 54 lying on the ground with their tops lying inwardly 25 as shown in FIG 17. End posts 53 are supported by cables and 56 which are attached to anchor structure 57 as shown in more detail in FIG 22.

r i i 1 r.; 3, Ir CI U I- Side posts 54 are hingedly attached by pivot bolts 59 to a metal plate anchor 58. They also have attached thereto temporary supports 60 acting as a compression column. Supports 60 have cables 61 all attached to winch 62. Also shown is anchor pulley 63. End posts 53 are first erected and attached together by continuous top plate 64.

Roof membrane 15 has attached thereto on each side thereof a continuous rigid member 65 in the form of an extrusion which may be clipped to the tops of posts 54 and attached thereto by screws (not shown).

In the process shown in FIGS 12-17 the side posts 54 have attached thereto temporary support member 60 and cables61 which passes in bearing contact over the top of member 60 and held thereto by a U bolt 60A. Upon actuation r+ 15 of winch 62 posts 54 are raised upwardly as shown in FIGS e~t* 13-14 with posts 54 pivoting on pivot bolts 59. As soon as one row of posts 54 reach a near vertical orientation as shown in the left hand side of FIG 14 they are retained in ,,this position temporarily while the other side (ie. the right hand side in FIG 14) of posts 54 are elevated in similar manner to a vertical position and retained in this position by securing cables 66 and 67. Thereafter the left hand side posts are raised to their full height and also secured in position by support cables 66 and 67. One cable 25 66 functions as an upper retaining cable or hold-down cable while the other cable 67 functions as a bottom support dable for roof membrane 15. Posts 54 may also be retained in position by braces 68. Subsequently posts 54 may be

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Thereafter roof membrane 15 may be inflated in similar manner as already described above in FIG 4.

FIGS 18-22 describes the inflatable building structure formed by the process shown in FIGS 12-17. Thus there is shown upper and lower membranes 29 and 30 of roof which are each clamped to extrusion 65 by clamping strap 69. Also shown are side curtains 70 and 71 with the bottom curtain 71 functioning as a insect screen. Bottom support cables 67 and 67A are also shown as well as turnbuckle tensioner device 72. Also shown is duct 73 interconnecting the interior of mciibrane 15 and the interior between curtains 70 and 71. Thus when membrane 15 is inflated the 15 interior of side curtains 70 and 71 may also be inflated if required. However, it will be appreciated that the interior of side curtain 70-71 may be inflated separately if desired. Also shown is pump 74 which may communicate with the interior of membrane 15 to inflate same if required through conduit 75. A non return valve (not shown) may be associated with the interior of membrane 15 or curtains 70-71 also if required.

In FIG 19 there is shown end post 53, bracing girder 76 and end curtains 77 and 78 with bottom end curtain 77 functioning as an insect screen if desired. Top curtain 78 may be rolled up if desired as shown at 79. This may be done mechanically as shown hereinafter in FIG 20 or thermostatically as also shown in FIG 20. If desired 4: 4. 1; r I ~I 40 e, S fC 4* t t sr r

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Sa conduit (not shown) may communicate between the interior of membrane 15 and the interior of end curtains 77 and 78 as described in FIG 18 in regard to duct 73. Suitably the pressure maintained within the interior of membrane 15 is between 26-32 pascals.

In FIG 20 there is shown the actuating mechanism for effecting raising or lowering of side curtain 70. End curtain 78 may be attached to girder 76 by clamping strap Clamping strap 81 may also attach bottom side curtain 77 to girder 68. There is also provided support rail 82 for carriage 83 for motor assembly 84. Motor assembly 84 includes motor 85, clutch 86, carrier bracket 87 attached to carriage 83 by bolts 88. Pinion 89 attached to output shaft meshes with larger gear wheel 91 and rotates same and 15 therefore mandrel 92 is also rotated. Carriage 83 upon actuation of motor 85 moves up and down on carrier rail 82 and to this end has internal roller bearings 93. There is also shown thermostat control 94 attached to support having a rotary control knob 96. Power cable 97A interconnects thermostat 94 to motor 85 as shown. The mechanism as shown in FIG 20 operates upon actuation of motor 85 by thermostat 94 through solenoid 97. When the motor is not in operation the carriage 83 is braked by clutch 86. When motor 85 cuts in solenoid 97 disengages clutch 86 and the operation of motor 85 enables carriage 83 to move upwardly or downwardly on carrier rail 82 depending upon the polarity of the power supply.

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In FIGS 21-22 there is shown appropriate anchor structure for both the end curtains 77 and 78 and cables 66 and 67A. Thus in FIG 21 there is shown anchor post 98 embedded in concrete 99 which optionally comprises a steel RSJ member. There is also shown a curtain winch 100 for elevating or lowering end curtain 78. Also shown is lower end curtain 77. There is also shown support cable 101.

In FIG 22 cables 66 and 67A are shown as well as fixed side curtain 71. Also shown are turnbuckles 102 and 103 for tensioning cables 66 and 67A when required. Also shown are galvanized steel stirrups 104, steel reinforcement frame 105 and concrete 106.

-n F±C 23 there is shown girder 76, fixed curtain 77, clamping 81, concrete 108 and steel reinforcement frame 15 109 and bolts 110.

The inflatable building structure of the invention is very advantageous in use in that the structure is very readily and efficiently installed or erected in comparison with the prior art and also in view of the standard components that may be utilized and is very cost effective.

The use of the inflatable membrane 15 provides a controlled gutter situation where the membrane 15 in effect functions as a very efficient gutter in case of heavy rainfall and still allows natural light to have access to the greenhouse 25 interior. The use of the side curtains and end curtains provides a controlled temperature situation especially where the side curtains and/or end curtains may be selectively raised or lowered as required.

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Claims (13)

1. An inflatable building structure comprising: a row of support posts on opposed sides of said structure each having an upper free end and the other end located at a fixed ground location; a roof structure formed from at least one inflatable membrane and having opposed sides supported at the free ends of said support posts; tensioned support cable means supported at the free ends of said support posts and extending between the rows of support posts and further supporting said at least one inflatable membrane; said structure being further characterised by being erected by initially disposing said at least one infatable membrane on the ground between said rows of said support posts with said opposed sides parallel to said rows of support posts, elevating said at least one infatable membrane when said supports are installed in a su'&tantially upright position, or said at least one inflatable membrane and the free ends of said support posts, when said support posts are initially installed in a horizontal position with said other ends pivotally attached at ground level and the said free ends are located inwardly of said other ends, by hoisting cables attached to said at least one infatable membrane in the first alternative and attached to said support posts in the second alternative whereby said at least one infatable membrane is 4 24 jj elevated to form the roof of said inflatable building structure and supported at the free ends of said support posts and tensioning said support cables to further support said at least one infatable membrane when inflated.

2. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support posts are initially installed in a substantially upright position and said at least one inflatable membrane is elevated to the said free ends of said support post by said hoisting cables attached to said at least one inflatable membrane. o

3. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said free ends of said support posts are provided with pulleys for carrying said hoisting cables and said I support cables. 0m

4. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said at least one inflatable membrane is provided as said opposed sides with gutter members, said at least one inflatable member being connected to said rows of support posts by said gutter members. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supports are initially installed in a substantially horizontal position with said other ends pivotally attached at ground level said free ends located inwardly of said other ends said at least one inflatable b membrane and said free ends being elevated by said hoisting cables attached to said support posts.

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6. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim wherein said hoisting cables are attached to said support posts by lever means connected to said support posts adjacent said other ends.

7. An inflatable building structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said structure includes side curtains and means for selectively raising or lowering one or more of said side curtains to control the interior temperature of said structure.

8. A building structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein thermostat control means is provided to raise or lower the ~bottom end of one or more of said side curtains in response to temperature variations from a selected temperature in order to maintain the temperature inside the structure at the selected Qo temperature.

9. An inflatable building structure as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said actuating means includes a support t rail attached to an adjacent support post, a carriage member for reciprocatable movement along the support rail, a mandrel 4 It for supporting at least one of said side or end curtains in a r' the course of its raising and lowering movement, a motor i assembly mounted on the support rail and gear means C interconnecting the motor assembly and said mandrel for said side or end curtain. i!

10. A structure according to claim 9 wherein a solenoid is interposed between the motor assembly and the thermostat IJI "l I control means to enable the motor assembly to drive the carriage member along the support rail.

11. An inflatable building structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of erecting an inflatable building structure comprising: installing a pair of opposed rows of support posts wherein each support post is disposed substantially horizontally with an outer end pivotally connected adjacent ground level and a free end'lying inwardly of said outer end; disposing at least one inflatable roof member on the ground between the free ends of said opposed rows of support posts; 0.9* 0*9 0dl 0.40* 0.91* 0.0*c *r 0 0 0400 0, 0 *i 0 c!: \L i i I ii t j r connecting opposed edges of said at least one inflatable member to said free ends of said support posts connecting; attaching support cables for said at least one inflatable member to the free ends of said support posts; attaching hoisting cables to said support posts; and elevating said support posts to a substantially upright position whereby said at least one inflatable membrane is elevated to form the roof structure of said inflatable building structure; tensioning said support cables to support said at least one inflatable member. j I :I i i r i i 21

13. A method of erecting an inflatable building structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs 12 to 23. DATED this Twentieth day of November, 1989. FLEXIPLANT USA by their Patent Attorneys G.R. CULLEN CO. 9.49 9* AC 9-94 C4a 4r* 9444 94* *1 J 4444 0S 49i 4 I It I II A4 1x B I I