CA2045544C - Retractable dome structure and method - Google Patents

Retractable dome structure and method

Info

Publication number
CA2045544C
CA2045544C CA 2045544 CA2045544A CA2045544C CA 2045544 C CA2045544 C CA 2045544C CA 2045544 CA2045544 CA 2045544 CA 2045544 A CA2045544 A CA 2045544A CA 2045544 C CA2045544 C CA 2045544C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
panels
retractable
generally
disposed
dome
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA 2045544
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2045544A1 (en
Inventor
William D. Goryl
George S. Reppas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2045544A1 publication Critical patent/CA2045544A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2045544C publication Critical patent/CA2045544C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04BGENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B7/00Roofs; Roof construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B7/16Roof structures with movable roof parts
    • E04B7/166Roof structures with movable roof parts characterised by a translation movement of the movable roof part, with or without additional movements
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04BGENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B7/00Roofs; Roof construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B7/08Vaulted roofs
    • E04B7/10Shell structures, e.g. of hyperbolic-parabolic shape; Grid-like formations acting as shell structures; Folded structures
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04HBUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H3/00Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons
    • E04H3/10Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons for meetings, entertainments, or sports
    • E04H3/14Gymnasiums; Other sporting buildings

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Abstract

A retractable dome structure such as a dome stadium utilizing a plurality of generally lune-shaped dome panels (20) mounted for movement between an open position in which they are stacked one above the other in superimposed relationship and a closed position in which they are disposed in a generally side-by-side relationship, and a mechanism (56) for guiding and moving said panels between said open and closed positions. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Description

RETRACTABLE DOME STRUCTURE AND METHOD
The present invention relates to dome structures and more particularly to a retractable dome stadium.
The desirability of providing an arena or stadium which can be fully open to the sun and fresh air in times of good weather and yet can be closed, or partially closed, in times of inclement weather or excessive wind, is widely recognized. To accomplish this goal is very difficult because of the massive size of such structures.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple design for such a stadium which is capable of being fully open as well as fully closed, which utilizes conventional spaceframe technology, which does not require an excessive amount of land, and in which the panels that move are relatively small and lightweight, thereby simplifying the support and actuation thereof, as well as the speed of movement thereof.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a retractable domed structure comprising: (a) a plurality of symmetrically truncated generally lune-shaped dome panels, each panel extending to points on the opposite sides of the same transverse substantially vertical plane passing through the center of an imaginary sphere partially defined by the dome and mounted for movement between an open position in which they are stacked one above the other in superimposed relationship and a closed position in which they are disposed in a generally side-by-side relationship; and (b) means for moving said panels between said open and closed la ip45544 positions.
Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a retractable dome stadium embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the dome in a closed position;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the dome in an opening position;
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but taken at right angles thereto, the left portion of the figure showing the dome in its closed position and the right-hand portion of the figure showing the dome in its open position;
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic sectional views taken generally in the same plane as Figure 4 and illustrating the sequence of movement of the dome panels from a closed to an open position;
Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic sectional view taken generally in the same plane as Figure 3 and illustrating the manner in which the ends of the dome panels are supported and actuated, the panels being shown in their open stacked position;

FiEure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a fragmentary view taken generally from line 10-10 in Figure 3, with parts broken away.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is applicable to virtually any type of structure, including stadiums or the like) but for exemplary purposes is illustrated embodied in the athletic stadium of Figures 1-4. The stadium generally comprises an activity surface in the form of a playing area 10, a plurality of tiers of seating 12, seating boxes 14, parking levels 16, pedestrian ramps 18 and like features common to most stadiums.
The present stadium is unique in that it can be fully opened and closed utilizing an improved retractable dome arrangement, generally comprising a plurality of generally equal width Tune-shaped dome panels movable between a closed position such as shown in Figures 1 and 4 (left side) in which the panels are disposed in side-by-side relationship to define a generally spherical segment shaped dome, and an open position such as shown in Figures 2 and 4 (right side) in which 20 the panels are stacked one above the other. A Tune is the surface of a sphere included between two great circles disposed at a given included angle of inclination. The dome of the present invention approximates a circular segment of a sphere and it is the shape of a truncated lune which is used for each of the movable dome panels. The top of the stadium complex is provided with a deck 22 defining a generally circular opening 24 disposed in close and slightly overlapping relationship with the outer ends of panels 20 in all positions thereof.
Panels 20 are supported intermediate their ends by a pair of arcuate support rails 26 each having an upper surface having a plurality of arcuate steps 28, one for each panel 20 (Figure 5-7)) and which lie generally on a great circle of the imaginary sphere defined by the dome.
The center of curvature of each step 28 is coincident with the center of the imaginary sphere with the radius of each step surface differing from the adjacent step surface by an amount approximately equal to the thickness of a panel 20. Each panel 20 has at least two supporting wheels 30 in alignment with each rail 26, and when the dome i.s closed each panel 20 is directly supported by rail 26 (Figure 5) with the adjacent edges of panels 20 slightly overlapping one another to provide SUBSTITUTE SHEET

WO 90/08869 'CT/US90/00491 ~045S44 a weatherproof joint. The two centermost panels 20 abut one another at an interface 32 (Figure 1) which can be provided with a suitable weatherproof seal. When panels 20 are moved downwardly and outwardly to the open position they roll from rail 26 onto the top surface (properly reinforced) of the next lower panel, and so on (Figure 6-7) until they reach the nested or stacked condition shown at the right side of Figure 4. Rails 26 are held in position by a suitable pair of arcuate supports 34) which can also be located on great circles of the imaginary sphere.
Panels 20 are also supported on arcuate arches 40 disposed at each end thereof. Arches 40) illustrated generally in Figures 3 and 4, are substantially parallel to one another, being disposed in parallel vertical planes equally spaced from the center of the dome. The overall arc of each arch is the arc defined by the intersection of the vertical plane in which the arch lies and the imaginary sphere of the dome itself. Each arch 40 has a flat inclined arcuate surface 42 facing the ends of each panel 20 and being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. Surfaces 42 each lie on the plane of a great circle of the imaginary sphere of the dome, and each has on the face thereof a plurality of parallel arcuate slots 44 through which extend end supports 46 for each of the panels 20. Each support 46 extends for the full width of each panel 20 and is in turn supported on its lower surface by means of a plurality of rollers 48. Support 46 has upstanding outer flange 47 supported on opposite sides by a plurality of rollers 50 and 52 and at the upper edge of flange 47 is a rack 54 engaged by a pinion 56 driven by a plurality of motors 58. Slots 44, in plan, are arcs of a circle having the same center as the imaginary sphere of the dome, and are of a length to accommodate the maximum length of travel of the panel or panels (i.e.) at opposite sides of the stadium) disposed therein.
The motors 58 for each track are spaced apart a distance less than the length of rack 54 so that each panel will always be under the control of at least one motor. The same is true for the sets of rollers 48) 50 and 52.
As best seen in Figures 8 and 9) each support 46 has rigidly affixed thereto a plurality of rods 60 each slidably received within a cylindrical bore 62 at the free end of each panel 20. Each rod 60 extends generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the panel and the inner free end thereof is connected to a suitable shock SUBSTITUTE SHEET

WO 90/08869 2445 J~~ PCT/US90/00491 absorbing and/or fluid-type compensating device 64 which is in turn affixed to panel 20. Device 64 can be of any desired construction and serves the purpose of dampening flopping movement of the panels under high wind conditions. They also can serve to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction of the entire structure.
Panels 20 may be of any desired lightweight construction, such as a standard spaceframe construction, with the outer panel skin being either fabric or metal, or a combination of both. The structural design of the panels) rails, arches, tracks) etc. can be in accordance with standard engineering and architectural practices based on the anticipated structural and weather loading.
In operation) if the dome is closed it is opened by first actuating the motors in the top tracks which control the centermost panel to cause it to start retracting. As it retracts) it rolls over the top of the next centermost panel until they are fully stacked (Figure 6).
Thereafter, the motors for both these panels are actuated to cause them both to retract together (Figure 7); and so on until the dome is fully opened, or at least opened to the desired extent. Both halves of the dome can be opened simultaneously if desired. The dome may be closed by simply reversing the opening sequence. Operating can be accomplished using conventional controls) sensors and the like.
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to provide the advantages above stated) it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without department from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHAT

Claims (9)

1. A retractable domed structure comprising:
(a) a plurality of symmetrically truncated generally lune-shaped dome panels, each panel extending to points on the opposite sides of the same transverse substantially vertical plane passing through the center of an imaginary sphere partially defined by the dome and mounted for movement between an open position in which they are stacked one above the other in superimposed relationship and a closed position in which they are disposed in a generally side-by-side relationship;
and (b) means for moving said panels between said open and closed positions.
2. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one generally arcuate rail disposed generally transversely to said panels for movably supporting same intermediate the ends thereof.
3. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels move with a generally pivotal-like motion between said positions, the axis of said motion extending generally through the center of an imaginary spherical segment defined by said panels when they are disposed in said closed position.
4. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a base structure defining a pair of generally parallel arches, said panels being moveably supported on and being disposed between said arches.
5. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 4 further comprising at least one track on each said arch for moveably supporting the ends of one of said panels.
6. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tracks are disposed parallel to one another.
7. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said dome panel extends to points on the opposite sides of a traverse substantially vertical plane passing through the center of an imaginary sphere partially defined by the panel.
8. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first plurality of said panels is disposed on one side of said structure and a second plurality of said panels is disposed on the opposite side of said structure and wherein the centermost panels of said first and second pluralities of panels abut one another when all said panels are in said closed position.
9. A retractable domed structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said panels is of substantially the same size and shape.
CA 2045544 1989-01-25 1990-01-24 Retractable dome structure and method Expired - Lifetime CA2045544C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30230189A 1989-01-25 1989-01-25
US302,301 1989-01-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2045544A1 CA2045544A1 (en) 1990-07-26
CA2045544C true CA2045544C (en) 1999-11-30

Family

ID=23167161

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2045544 Expired - Lifetime CA2045544C (en) 1989-01-25 1990-01-24 Retractable dome structure and method

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0455745B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH04503093A (en)
CA (1) CA2045544C (en)
DE (1) DE69015162T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1990008869A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101962976A (en) * 2010-09-18 2011-02-02 浙江精工钢结构有限公司 Retractable gymnasium roof with ultra large curved space and control method thereof

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2703097A1 (en) * 1993-03-23 1994-09-30 Compagnone Rocco Movable roofs for public meeting places
ES2125793B1 (en) * 1996-01-15 1999-09-16 Martinez Apezteguia Juan RETRACTABLE COVER FOR LARGE OPEN AND / OR CLOSED ENCLOSURES.
US9126093B1 (en) * 2013-02-07 2015-09-08 Atlantic Recreation, Inc, ; System for retractable tennis court shade device
CN112946869A (en) * 2021-01-29 2021-06-11 四川亚东世纪科技有限公司 Movable astronomical dome

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3195275A (en) * 1960-10-28 1965-07-20 Praeger Kavanagh Waterbury Roof system for stadia and the like
US4075795A (en) * 1976-10-07 1978-02-28 Anthony Thomas Theater structure
US4204372A (en) * 1978-07-05 1980-05-27 Berdje Agopyan Retractable roof
FR2444763A1 (en) * 1978-12-19 1980-07-18 Milinic Vojin Watertight retractable cover for building or sports ground - has winch erected panels of identical parallel portal frames
AU590631B2 (en) * 1986-04-08 1989-11-09 Ohbayashi-Gumi Ltd. Retractable roof structure
US4738057A (en) * 1986-04-14 1988-04-19 Logan Kenneth C Arch supported retractable inflatable roof
US4716691A (en) * 1986-05-01 1988-01-05 Allen Christopher M Stadium building
US4682449A (en) * 1986-09-30 1987-07-28 Berger Horst L Retractable stadium roof system with rectangular opening

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101962976A (en) * 2010-09-18 2011-02-02 浙江精工钢结构有限公司 Retractable gymnasium roof with ultra large curved space and control method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1990008869A1 (en) 1990-08-09
EP0455745A4 (en) 1992-02-26
JPH04503093A (en) 1992-06-04
DE69015162T2 (en) 1995-05-24
EP0455745A1 (en) 1991-11-13
DE69015162D1 (en) 1995-01-26
CA2045544A1 (en) 1990-07-26
EP0455745B1 (en) 1994-12-14

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