GB2023685A - Retractable roofing - Google Patents

Abstract

A roofing system which is capable of being partly or wholly retracted comprises a structure which is self supporting at points of support on the ground; a series of movable roofing elements connected to the structure and able to be retracted onto one another adjacent to or below ground level; and means for receiving the movable elements. The elements may be mutually telescopic, interleaved, intersliding, stackable or inflatable. The elements may be guided between the retracted and extended positions by cables and may collapse in the manner of a fan or alternatively a venetian blind. The elements may be of aluminium, plastics or concrete, with a plastics foam core. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Retractable roofing The present invention relates to the building field and especially to that of roofing. It particularly concerns a new system of roofing which is retractable to an uncovering configuration.

Systems of removable roofings have already been known for a certain number of years, employed, for example, for the construction of winter/summer swimming-pools. Generally the roofing supported by pillars or posts during the cold period is translated in summer onto a series of other posts installed permanently at the side thereof. In another construction, the roofing consists of panels in the form of an arc of a circle, which are pivotable with a turning motion about a central mast, the assembly running round a rail.

These systems exhibit a certain number of disadvantages both on aesthetic and technical grounds, for example, the necessity of a double supporting structure in the first case and in the second case the presence permanently on the roofing of at least one panel or sector of panels under which the other panels are retracted. In addition, in these known systems there is a limit to the dimensions and removable roofings cannot be produced of very large area, for example, greater than 1,000 m2.

The invention enables these disadvantages to be avoided and the solving of the problem of the design of roofings of large span, capable of being retracted totally in a very short time without necessitating auxiliary bearer members injurious to the aesthetic and of considerable cost. In addition it allows of the production of roofings of very large dimensions, practically without any maximum load limit.

The new roofing system in accordance with the invention which is capable of being partly or wholly retracted comprises the combination: (a) of a structure which is self-supporting at points of support on the ground; (b) of a series of movable roofing elements connected to the structure and able to be retracted on one another or to disappear entirely adjacent to or below ground level; and (c) means for receiving the the movable elements.

The self-supporting structure may be either fixed and all in one or produced in a number of portions which may be telescopic, dismountable and/or foldable. In the first case it remains in place after disappearance of the movable elements which constitute the roof covering. In the second case it becomes possible to eliminate it wholly or partly from the area of its installation, which may be of interest, for example, for strategic or other aviation hangars or else buildings which are temporary or intended for being built subsequently at other places. This self-supporting structure may have any profile, for example, curved, helicoidal or the like and may be produced from various materials such as hollow concrete, prestressed concrete, metal or metal alloys, glued laminate, etc.In practice it is often advantageous to provide a hollow structure so as to be able to house the members and devices of technical utiiities such as systems of illumination, ventilation and the like.

In addition, this self-supporting skeleton structure is equipped with means which enable the movable elements to be made to roll, slide or otherwise guided at the time of folding back or disappearance of the latter. For example, these means may consist of rails or siides which cooperate with follower members, of roller or other type, provided at the ends of the movable elements.

The movable elements preferably consist of a series of panels which at the time of use as a roofing, are coupled firmly with one another so as to be water-tight, and which at the time of the opening or uncovering phase are capable of being translated or slid over one another to become superimposed. In practice these panels may assume various forms such, for example, as flat sheets composite beams, curved shells of aeroplane wing-type, frustoconical or cylindrical, etc. In accordance with an advantageous feature, these panels are filled with cellular material such as injected plastics foam so as to ensure good sound and heat insulation. The constitutent materials may be chosen from the range of known products such as metal or alloy (for example, anodized aluminium), stratified plastics matter-mineral fibre, lightweight concrete, etc.

Such perfectly insulated panels may be suitable, together with appropriate equipment, for recovery and conversion of solar energy. In accordance with a variant, the panels may consist of parts of cloth or the like or else of inflatable structures. Finally, these retractable elements may be equipped as needed, with portholes, doors or various other attachments required.

The means of receiving the movable panels upon retracting the roofing may be of a variety of types. In accordance with a first construction, the panels are stacked or superimposed in one or more pits arranged close to the side portions- of the roof, for example, at each side of the building. In accordance with another construction there is provided at the level of the ground or below it a hollow area substantially equivalent to that occupied by the roofing so as to enable by rotation together of the integral movable parts, translation of the latter into the hollow area. Such a construction is quite particularly suited when the ground, on which the building having the retractable roofing stands, includes a set of tiers, the aforesaid hollow area then being provided between the ground and the bottom of the tiers.In accordance with a variant the panels may be folded like a fan, after the fashion of venetian blinds, at one side of the self-supporting structure.

The invention will be better understood by the detailed description of exemplary constructions which are illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are front and plan views respectively of a construction with one roofing system; Figures 3 and 4 are sections taken on the line AA in Fig. 1 in respective positions with the roofing closed (Fig. 3) and with the roofing open (Fig. 4), with a pit for recovery of the retractable movable parts; Figure 5shows the detail of one possibility of stacking the movable elements in a pit; Figure 6 is a partial view of a method of connection of the movable elements to the self-supporting structure of the roofing and a way of moving these elements in the pit;; Figure 7 and 8 show detailed views of the assembly of two elements or movable panels and then of their unlocking, in the respective positions: roofing closed (Fig. 7) and roofing in the opening position (Fig. 8); Figure 9 shows an alternative construction in which the retractable panels are translated in the opening position under the area originally covered by the structure, for example, under tiers; and, Figures 10 and ii show another construction in which the panels may be unfolded then folded back as hinged flaps.

As shown in the drawings, the building having a retractable roof has a curved general outline and assumes the configuration of two sections of truncated cone 1 and 2 (Figs. 1 and 2). It includes essentially a self-supporting structure here composed of a high portion in the form of a double girder 3 in an arc of a circle and of low portions in the form of a double girder 4 either similar or constituting the apex of a cone; a series of movable elements 5 connected to the structure 3 and 4 and capable of being retracted entirely as will be explained later; an area for receiving the elements or movable panels, which may, for example, be a pit 6 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) or a free space 7 arranged under tiers 8 (see Fig.

9) when the ground 9 to be covered over includes such tiers.

The movable panel elements 5 are constituted by forms of shell and may be made like coffers with internal ribs, for example, of anodized aluminium sheet or other material.

The interior of the coffers is preferably filled with an insulating plastics foam. The shells 5, which are of great strength under forces and loads, are integral with one another in the position with the roofing closed (see Fig. 3) and may be retracted by sliding or rolling over one another in order to be stacked in the pit 6, leaving the self-supporting structure 3 in the open air (see Figs. 4 and 5).

In accordance with the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, each shell 5 includes a rolling system, for example, a roller 10, guided in a rail 11 supported by the selfsupporting structure 3 and 4 as well as a roller 1 2 resting on the adjacent part, which enables rolling of the shells over one another at the time of stacking in the pit 6 or other storage area. The parts 5 are made integral with one another thanks to retainer bars 1 3 and cams 1 4 and are connected by water tight joints 1 5. The aforesaid members are clearly visible in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively in the position of integration with the roofing closed, and of uncovering according to the arrow 1 6 in the phase of opening and stacking of the shells 5.

A device for control of the movement of the movable shells 5 is illustrated in Fig. 6. The opening and closing of the roofing are here controlled by a cable 1 7 (or rack) fixed onto the first shell 5 to be retracted, and controlled by a winch 18, electrical or otherwise, arranged, for example, in the pit 6. Thanks to the rollers 10 and 12, the first shell thus moved by the cable carries along the following shells which then roll over one another and are stacked in the pit 6 as indicated in Fig. 5. Of course any other means of manipulation than those mentioned above may be employed for the operation of openings the roof.

In accordance with the variant as Fig. 9, which relates, for example, to the case of a play area equipped round its periphery with tiers 8, the whole of the movable panels 5 at each side of the supporting structures 3 and 4, is translated in the direction of the arrow 1 9 into the area 7 available between the tiers 8 and the ground 9. Thus at the time of opening, all of the roofing may be stored under the building by employing substantially the same developed area as the building itself.

In accordance with the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the plane or shaped panels may consist of hinged elements in the form of flaps which are either unfolded as indicated by 20 at the time of covering of the skeleton 3 or folded back over one another as indicated at 21, where such folding may be effected at one side of the skeleton instead of storage in a pit as in the method of construction illustrated in Fig. 5.

As has been explained above, the selfsupporting structure 3 and 4 may in turn be produced from dismountable parts, for example, of telescopic type.

Claims (11)

1. A retractable roofing system comprising a combination: (a) of a structure which is selfsupporting at points of support on the ground; (b) of a series of movable roofing elements connected to the structure and able to be retracted on one amother or to disappear entirely adjacent to or below ground level; and (c) means for receiving the movable elements.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the self-supporting structure is fixed and hence remains in place after the retraction of the movable elements.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the self-supporting structure is movable, being composed of telescopic, dismountable and/or foldable portions.

4. A system according to anyone of the preceeding claims, wherein the self-supporting structure is equipped with means enabling the movable elements to be guided at the time of their retraction, and includes conventional technical utilities such as systems of illumination and ventilation.

5. A system according to anyone of the preceeding claims, wherein the movable elements each including at least one connection to the adjacent elements so as to enable simultaneous movement of the elements during retraction thereof, the elements being sealed to one another when unretracted.

6. A system according to anyone of the preceeding claims, wherein the movable elements consist of hinged panels capable of being folded back like a fan after the fashion of venetian blinds at one side of the selfsupporting structure.

7. A system according to anyone of the preceeding claims, wherein the movable elements consist of coffers with internal ribs and are filled with an insulating foam of plastics material.

8. A system according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the movable elements consist of inflatable structures.

9. A system according to anyone of the preceeding claims, wherein the means for receiving the movable elements include a pit provided close to the side of the self-supporting structure.

1 0. A system according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein the means for receiving the movable elements comprise a hollow area provided adjacent to or below ground level, of area substantially equivalent to that occupied by the unretracted roofing into which the elements are translated.

11. A system according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to any one of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A building, such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, stadium or hanger, having a roofing system according to any one of the preceeding claims.