GB2061351A - Shelters - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelter comprising a flexible framework of radial rods supporting a shaped membrane; a tie connecting the apex of the framework to a central ground anchor. Membrane tension and shelter strength may be increased by the addition of circumferentially expanding struts 6 interconnecting the radial rods and by the addition of a tie 7 to each rod which makes a geometric chord with the rod. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ouickly Erected Shelter The shelter construction Fig. 1 consists of a flexible framework comprising a number of flexible rods 1 end enveloped by and attaching a shaped membrane 2 and spaced about an anchor point 3 in the surface of the supporting structure or ground. The flexible rods are each connected by means of a flexible joint to a central loading point 4 and arranged radially and sloping toward the ground in the form of a pyramid. The rods are attached to, and restrained by the membrane at their outer ends. The membrane when tensioned is in the form of a dome. A tie 5 connects the central loading point to the surface anchor point.

Shortening the tie length pulls the central loading point toward the surface and causes the rods to bow. If the bowing is encouraged to be away from the construction centre then the framework will expand spatially, subsequently tightening the membrane Fig. 2. Additional structure strength is achieved by the introduction of circumferential struts 6 interconnecting the rods at an appropriate radial distance and by ties 7 forming a chord with the lower region of each rod. The structure is then in the erected state and takes the form of a light weight building or shelter, access being by an opening in the membrane between two rods.

Claims

1. A shelter construction comprising a flexible framework enveloped by a shaped membrane characterised in that deflection of the framework resulting in an expansion of the spatial surface area of the framework thereby tensions the membrane.

2. A shelter construction as claimed in claim 1 comprising a flexible framework enveloped by a shaped membrane characterised in that the deflection of an upper central area of the framework toward the shelter base surface causes the framework to flexibly expand thereby both tensioning the membrane and holding the shelter to the supporting surface.

3. A shelter construction as claimed in claim 1 comprising a flexible framework incorporating a load bearing point at its central apex and enveloped by and attaching a shaped membrane and with the whole structure positioned about an anchor point on the support surface characterised in that the introduction of the ground anchor point and of a tie connecting the ground anchor point and the framework load bearing point introduces a deflection of the framework load bearing point causing an outward deflection of the framework and resulting in membrane tensioning and shelter hold-down onto the supporting surface.

4. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims comprising a dome shaped membrane and a pyramid shaped flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible rods arranged radially and at angular intervals and spatially arranged to form the pyramid shape are each loaded in longitudinal compression both by the action of the central tie and by the membrane restraint at the shelter ground periphery characterised in that the resulting bowing of the rods when encouraged to be in a direction away from the shelter centre will transform the shelter framework from that of a pyramid to that of a dome thereby both tensioning the membrane and inparting a degree of rigidity to the shelter by means of the membrane shear stiffness or shear stiffening features within the membrane.

5. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims which incorporates adjustment of the length of the tie characterised in that raising and lowering the central apex of the contruction by adjusting the effective tie length will change the amount of framework expansion will thus change the degree of tension in the membrane.

6. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims in which the tie is in the form of a rigid rod characterised in that it will serve as both strut and tie thus enabling the reaction of additional roof loading as may be caused for example by snow.

7. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims but having 2 or more ties characterised in that the simultaneous combined loading of all the ties will produce the required structural geometric form and stiffness.

8. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims wherein the anchor point is in the form of a screw device characterised in that the screwing of this device into the earth will provide the necessary fixing to resist the upward pull of the tie when the shelter is erected on an earth surface.

9. A shelter construction as claimed in previous claims 1 to 7 inclusive wherein the anchor point is any feature capable of providing the required reaction force characterised in that the anchor feature will be capable of reacting the force in the tie maintaining the shelter erect.

10. A shelter construction as claimed in claims 1 and 2 comprising a dome shaped membrane and flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible rods are arranged radially and at angular intervals and spatially arranged to form a pyramid shape characterised in that the rods are interconnected at distances equal from the central apex by circumferential struts the introduction of which will be to cause the radial rods to bow outwards resulting in membrane tensioning and shelter stiffening.

11. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims characterised in that shelter erection will be a combination of circumferential strut loading and centre tie loading.

1 2. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims to be used as a basic shape or form for covering with an insulation layer characterised in that in itself it may not be a shelter due to the temporary nature of materials used.

1 3. A shelter construction as claimed in all

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ouickly Erected Shelter The shelter construction Fig. 1 consists of a flexible framework comprising a number of flexible rods 1 end enveloped by and attaching a shaped membrane 2 and spaced about an anchor point 3 in the surface of the supporting structure or ground. The flexible rods are each connected by means of a flexible joint to a central loading point 4 and arranged radially and sloping toward the ground in the form of a pyramid. The rods are attached to, and restrained by the membrane at their outer ends. The membrane when tensioned is in the form of a dome. A tie 5 connects the central loading point to the surface anchor point. Shortening the tie length pulls the central loading point toward the surface and causes the rods to bow. If the bowing is encouraged to be away from the construction centre then the framework will expand spatially, subsequently tightening the membrane Fig. 2. Additional structure strength is achieved by the introduction of circumferential struts 6 interconnecting the rods at an appropriate radial distance and by ties 7 forming a chord with the lower region of each rod. The structure is then in the erected state and takes the form of a light weight building or shelter, access being by an opening in the membrane between two rods. Claims

1. A shelter construction comprising a flexible framework enveloped by a shaped membrane characterised in that deflection of the framework resulting in an expansion of the spatial surface area of the framework thereby tensions the membrane.

2. A shelter construction as claimed in claim 1 comprising a flexible framework enveloped by a shaped membrane characterised in that the deflection of an upper central area of the framework toward the shelter base surface causes the framework to flexibly expand thereby both tensioning the membrane and holding the shelter to the supporting surface.

3. A shelter construction as claimed in claim 1 comprising a flexible framework incorporating a load bearing point at its central apex and enveloped by and attaching a shaped membrane and with the whole structure positioned about an anchor point on the support surface characterised in that the introduction of the ground anchor point and of a tie connecting the ground anchor point and the framework load bearing point introduces a deflection of the framework load bearing point causing an outward deflection of the framework and resulting in membrane tensioning and shelter hold-down onto the supporting surface.

4. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims comprising a dome shaped membrane and a pyramid shaped flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible rods arranged radially and at angular intervals and spatially arranged to form the pyramid shape are each loaded in longitudinal compression both by the action of the central tie and by the membrane restraint at the shelter ground periphery characterised in that the resulting bowing of the rods when encouraged to be in a direction away from the shelter centre will transform the shelter framework from that of a pyramid to that of a dome thereby both tensioning the membrane and inparting a degree of rigidity to the shelter by means of the membrane shear stiffness or shear stiffening features within the membrane.

5. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims which incorporates adjustment of the length of the tie characterised in that raising and lowering the central apex of the contruction by adjusting the effective tie length will change the amount of framework expansion will thus change the degree of tension in the membrane.

6. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims in which the tie is in the form of a rigid rod characterised in that it will serve as both strut and tie thus enabling the reaction of additional roof loading as may be caused for example by snow.

7. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims but having 2 or more ties characterised in that the simultaneous combined loading of all the ties will produce the required structural geometric form and stiffness.

8. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims wherein the anchor point is in the form of a screw device characterised in that the screwing of this device into the earth will provide the necessary fixing to resist the upward pull of the tie when the shelter is erected on an earth surface.

9. A shelter construction as claimed in previous claims 1 to 7 inclusive wherein the anchor point is any feature capable of providing the required reaction force characterised in that the anchor feature will be capable of reacting the force in the tie maintaining the shelter erect.

10. A shelter construction as claimed in claims 1 and 2 comprising a dome shaped membrane and flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible framework wherein a plurality of flexible rods are arranged radially and at angular intervals and spatially arranged to form a pyramid shape characterised in that the rods are interconnected at distances equal from the central apex by circumferential struts the introduction of which will be to cause the radial rods to bow outwards resulting in membrane tensioning and shelter stiffening.

11. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims characterised in that shelter erection will be a combination of circumferential strut loading and centre tie loading.

1 2. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims to be used as a basic shape or form for covering with an insulation layer characterised in that in itself it may not be a shelter due to the temporary nature of materials used.

1 3. A shelter construction as claimed in all previous claims but with each rod incorporating a tie making a geometric chord with the rods characterised in that the tie braces the rod against forces causing the rod to unbend.

14. A shelter construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.