GB2434382A

GB2434382A - Transformable roof and method of operation

Info

Publication number: GB2434382A
Application number: GB0601254A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Kimberg; Serge Kimberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-21
Filing date: 2006-01-21
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: GB0601254D0

Abstract

Transformable roof over large span structures consisting of two symmetrical parts, and comprising: <UL ST=" $ "> <LI>multiple traversal bearing elements made as sagged steel cables and supplied with anchorage devices capable of moving in longitudinal direction; <LI>multiple longitudinal bearing elements made as arced elastic serviceable strips, attached in joints to said traversal elements, and prestressed when said roof halves are closed; <LI>roof covering made from serviceable elastic waterproof material, connected to and supported by said traversal and longitudinal bearing elements; </UL> where roof transformations occur by translations of said roof halves so that: <UL ST=" $ "> <LI>when weather conditions are good each said roof half is translated in longitudinal direction from the center of the structure towards the sides, and stored there in folded state, therefore completely opening the whole area; <LI>while when weather conditions are bad said roof halves are slid towards the center of the structure, therefore completely covering the whole area. </UL>

Description

TRANSFORMABLE ROOF AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Invention relates to enclosures erected over large span structures such as stadiums or arenas, particularly, transformable roofs and method of their operation. Yet more particularly, proposed invention relates to light inexpensive constructions with translated prestressed bearing elements that allow to easy conversion of a stadium from indoor to outdoor and vise versa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Erection of various construction structures using suspension cables and their prestressing represents itself a technology that is known for quite a while. As an example suspension bridges could be mentioned as well as frame buildings with prestressed reinforcement. In addition, known art describes buildings that have been designed so that suspension cables supported their roof. Design of such roof structures could be found in US Patents NoD305937, No4802314, and No5010695.

Known art of design and construction of transformable roof structures includes US patents No685 1227 (Schildge, et al) that claims structural and mechanical means to build a large retractable roof, that can be flat or have the shape of a vaulted barrel or a pitched vaulted roof, the roof is moved as one monolithic piece on and off a mall walkway or other structure.

Also know is retractable roof system for stadium according to US Patent No6789360 (Silberman et al), where a convertible stadium includes an exhibition area, a seating area and a plurality of roof support locations for supporting a movable or retractable roof assembly.

Yet known is transformable roof over existing stadium as per US. Patent No5653066 (Schildge) featuring a cable-stay retractable skylight roof and method of constructing the same wherein a large clear span is build over an existing or new athletic stadium or other structure; the principal feature of the roof is that it is supported by cable-stays to towers standing outside of the stadium.

Proposed invention relates to US. Patent 5653066 and is an improvement over it forming the subject of the invention in a manner in which the roof is designed, constructed, supported and translated over a large span structure like a stadium or similar arena. The innovation of current invention constitutes design, construction and method of translation of transformable roof in order to create an outdoor or indoor stadium depending on weather conditions.

Recently there has been increasing demand for retractable roofs over open air stadiums and similar structures that would permit to follow planned schedule of events regardless of weather conditions.

Major new arenas such as Olympic stadiums are initially constructed with retractable roofs that could be transformed over if not all then at least 50% of stadium area including tribunes and play court.

However, existing open stadiums usually require significant modification and reinforcement of walls in order to support newly added roof-measures that lead to prolonged construction periods and serious investments.

Accordingly, there is demand for supplying existing open air stadiums with simple and inexpensive roof structures that would provide, while retaining original quality of play ground surface, a quick and easy transformation of the stadium from outdoor to indoor depending on changing weather conditions, like for example tennis stadiums in case of a rain.

Accordingly it is an object of the subject invention to provide new and improved design, construction and transformation methods of such roof over existing and new stadiums or similar structures, so that the roof could be quickly and easily transformed to either completely cover the stadium area or open it almost for 100%.

It is an object of this invention to provide means of constructing such a roof in a functional and cost effective way.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved design, construction and transformation methods of transformable roof over existing and new stadiums, which structure will provide unobstructed viewing within the stadium in both closed and open positions of the roof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved design, construction and transformation methods of transformable roof, which is capable of supporting elastic enclosure as well as load of atmospheric precipitations to allow for retention or use of natural surface of play court disregarding weather conditions.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and improved transformable roof, which structure is capable of withstanding seismic forces as well as wind forces in both closed and open positions.

It is also object of this invention to provide a roof that could be constructed using available technique.

It is also object of this invention to provide a roof that has a long life term.

It is also object of this invention to provide a roof that has relatively low construction, operation and maintenance costs.

It is also object of this invention to provide a roof that retains architectural features of the underlying stadium or arena.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with these and many other objects, the subject invention provides a structural design, construction method and transformation method of a roof over existing or new large span structures such as stadiums or arenas.

Transformable roof according to proposed invention is based on a rational constructive enclosure system where all bearing elements appear stretched and prestressed, allowing thereby to use for that purposes high strength materials, while light materials are used for covering itself. Such choice allows to maximum reduction of sole weight of said roof covering as well as its reactions of support, reduce amount of constructive materials used, make easier and more simple roof transformation operations, achieve overall high efficiency of the construction as per preferred embodiment.

Transformable roof, according to the proposed invention consists of two symmetrical parts with a seam between them, incorporates multiple traversal and longitudinal bearing string elements and a roof covering from a serviceable elastic waterproof material that is connected to and supported by said string elements.

Preferred embodiment claims to make traversal bearing string elements as sagged steel cables or strands, having sags that increase gradually and rapidly in direction from the center of the construction towards the side walls (tribunes), and supplied with bearing anchorage devices that are capable of moving along main walls (tribunes) in longitudinal direction, while being inserted in the girders of light bearing structures mounted on top of said main walls (tribunes).

The aforesaid structural design is distinct in its ability to translate said components of each half of the roof between the center and the side tribunes, so that when weather conditions are good roof would be slid open with each half moved close to said side tribunes and stored in folded state over enforced parts of light bearing construction, whereas when weather conditions are bad the roof halves are slid towards the center of the stadium, thus covering both arena and the tribunes.

The aforesaid structural design is also distinct by said longitudinal bearing string elements that are fabricated from strips of serviceable tissue, attached in joints to said traversal elements, made arc shaped, and in closed state of said roof are prestressed on light brackets that are mounted on side walls (tribunes) from outside.

The aforesaid preferred embodiment of transformable roof is also distinct by that in closed state of the roof the traversal and longitudinal string elements form a spatial prestressed stable construction structure consisting of concave and convex polygons, that allows modeling using calculation scheme of mutually balanced funicular polygons.

The aforesaid preferred embodiment of transformable roof is also distinct by introduction of a strip from a serviceable tissue that is attached to the chariots so that in the closed state of the roof said chariots are able to slide from one main wall (tribune) to another along the traversal central most string elements that belong to each of said roof halves while stretching said tissue strip over the seam, while in the open state of said transformable roof said chariots are slid sideward and kept near the stadium wall so that attached to them said tissue strip is kept in a folded state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWiNGS

Additional structural design elements and advantages of the proposed invention are illustrated by drawings of preferred embodiment of transformable roof, in which: Fig. 1 is outside view of structure (stadium) main façade Fig. 2 is outside view of structure (stadium) side facade (intermediate traversal string elements and roof covenng are not shown for simplicity) Fig. 3 is longitudinal cross-section view of a stadium in plain I-I on Fig2.

Fig. 4 is lateral cross-section view of a stadium in plain 11-Il on Fig!.

Fig. 5 displays parts of longitudinal and traversal bearing elements of proposed preferred embodiment: A -longitudinal cross-section view of the connection joint between said longitudinal, traversal bearing elements, and roof covering; B -lateral cross-section view of the connection joint between said longitudinal, traversal bearing elements, and roof covering; C -template of the junction plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragment of connection joint between the two halves of invented transformable roof in its middle: A -is a lateral cross-section view of the connection joint; B -is a plan view of the connection joint (serviceable tissue is not shown) Fig. 7 is longitudinal cross-section view of said traversal string element anchorage device.

Fig. 8 is lateral cross-section view of said traversal string element anchorage device.

Fig. 9 is a fragment of said transformable roof in open position (arranged in folded state) Fig. 10 presents transformable roof translation schemas: A -connection embodiment mounted at the ends of traversal string elements B -translation schema for roof closure C -translation schema for roof opening

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of transformable roof over a large span structures such as stadium or arena includes traversal bearing string elements (1), longitudinal bearing string elements (2), roof covering (3) as shown in Figs. 1 -9, and chain of chariots (6 in Fig.6).

Said traversal bearing string elements (1) are implemented as sagged steel cables or strands, having sags that increase gradually and rapidly in direction from the center of the construction towards said side walls (tribunes).

Said longitudinal bearing string elements (2) are implemented from strips of serviceable tissue, that are rested on and attached in joints to said traversal bearing string elements (1), made arc shaped and prestressed.

Said roof covering (3) is fabricated from a serviceable elastic waterproof material that is rested on said traversal (1) and longitudinal (2) bearing string elements.

All aforesaid main components of transformable roof preferred embodiment are connected between each other in intersections of said traversal (1) and longitudinal (2) string elements using special junction plates (4) in Figs. 5A, 5B, and 5C. Said junction plates (4) are folded and fixed around said traversal elements (1), while said longitudinal string elements (2) having attached to them aforesaid roof covering (3) from a serviceable tissue are fixed onto the sleeves of said junction plates (4).

Proposed transformable roof is structurally divided into two symmetrical parts with a seam between them situated in the plane of traversal axis of the covered arena.

In closed position of the transformable roof its said half-parts are connected to each other using following preferred embodiment. The central most traversal string elements (1) of each half-part of the roof are supplied with members of elastic cylindrical aprons (5 in Figs. 6A and 6B). Said elastic cylindrical aprons (5) have their outer surface covered with some antifriction material, for example Teflon. Along said apron members (5) could easily slide chariot units (6 in Figs. 6A and 6B). Each said chariot unit (6) consists of two bilaterally symmetrical stops connected to each other by two adjustable screws with right-handed and left-handed threads. The provided chariot units (6) are attached to the connecting strip (7 in Figs. 6A and 6B) from the serviceable tissue, which in the initial state of the chariot units (6) is kept in a folded position on the outside of one of the main walls (tribunes). Said connecting strip (7) by means of translating said chariot units (6) along said cylindrical aprons (5) covers said central seam between said half-parts of the transformable roof and becomes stressed at the same time.

Said traversal bearing string elements (1) are supplied on their ends with bearing anchorage devices (8). Said anchorage devices are capable of moving in longitudinal direction, while being inserted in the girders (9) of light bearing structures (10) that are mounted on top of said main walls (tribunes). The height of said light bearing structures (10) is defined based on criteria of unscreened visibility of the play court from any point on the tribunes, as well as on criteria of take up optimization of outward thrust of said bearing traversal elements (1).

In closed position of preferred embodiment, both said roof halves are situated close to each other, allowing an easy translation of chariots (6) along the seam between said roof halves, with said seam getting completely covered by said connecting strip (7).

At this point said longitudinal bearing elements (2) are tensioned for example by means of winding under predefined force around rollers installed on light brackets (11) that are mounted on side walls (tribunes). Therefore, in closed position of preferred embodiment, provided traversal (1) and longitudinal (2) bearing elements compose stable prestressed spatial structure, that represents itself plurality of concave and convex polygons, that can be modeled by calculation scheme of mutually balanced funicular polygons.

In open position of the proposed transfonnable roof, when tensioning is removed from said longitudinal elements (2), and said seam between roof-halves is not covered by said strip (7), both said roof-halves are translated apart from each other, so that, all provided components of said roof could be completely removed in direction from the center of the arena to their storage positions at side walls (tribunes). However, in case of atmospheric precipitations the provided components of the proposed transformable roof could be easily moved from said storage positions back towards the middle traversal axis of the stadium, and protect both playground and the tribunes.

An additional layer from antifriction material is applied on surfaces-in-touch of said anchorage devices (8) of traversal bearing elements (1) and said girders (9) of light bearing structures (10) in order to facilitate translation during transformations of the roof.

The provided anchorage devices (8) are supplied with washes (12) having flexible ties (13) made for example from strips of serviceable tissue that are applied to said washes (12) in order to facilitate application to said anchorage devices of any means of driving force as well as for fixing said anchorage devices in desired positions.

According to the invention in open position of the transformable roof its main components (1), (2) and (3) are assembled in shape of folds near the side walls (tribunes) as shown in Fig.9. Similarly, folds are formed as well by said flexible ties (13) as shown inFig.1OB.

Translation of said traversal bearing elements (1) in positions corresponding to the closed roof state may be performed by for example by affixing hook (14) to said washer (12) of said anchorage device (8) belonging to the closest to the central axis said traversal bearing string element (1) -Fig.1OB. Said hook (14) is attached to a pull rope (15) of winch (16) that is mounted on special working platform (18). Said special working platforms are situated in the middle of each main wall (tribune) opposite one another. By means of synchronous pull using two said winches every said traversal element (1) gets translated to its working place, while said roof-halves as a whole get moved in their closed positions near the middle axis of the stadium. During aforementioned translation of each said half of said transformable roof it is advisable to follow that stretching of hanging ties (13) occurred in sequence predominantly between those said anchorage devices (8) that are in translation and the closest to not yet translated ones.

As shown in Fig.1OC, translation of said traversal bearing elements (1) in positions corresponding to the open roof state may be performed for example by affixing said hook (14) to said washer (12) of said anchorage device (8) of second to the last from the central axis said traversal bearing string element (1). Said hook (14) is attached to a pull rope (15) that goes to block (17). Said pull rope (15) gets passed over said block (17) before it goes back to said winch (16). By means of activating said winch second to the last said anchorage devise gets pulled towards the last from central axis said anchorage devise. Provided translation of second to last anchorage devices is done synchronously along two main walls (tribunes). Subsequently, provided translation is applied to pull third to the last said anchorage devices to the seconds, fourths to thirds and so on. Said sequential translation is necessary in order to provide open state of the transformable roof, where said roof covering is stored being stacked in folds only in areas over said side walls (tribunes), where said light supporting structures (10) are enforced so to account for an increased design load from said roof covering weight. As a result both halves of the transformable roof are pulled apart from each other and stacked in folds over said side walls (tribunes) in their storage positions.

Translation of said cartridges (6) with said connecting strip (7) along said seam between said two roof-halves may be also performed from said working platforms (18) using hook (14), pull rope (15) and winch (16).

Rainwater is removed by natural drainage in direction from main tribunes to the middle of the covering and subsequent transition in longitudinal direction outwards past said side tribunes. Openings between bearing structural elements (10) may be protected from side rain for example by means of a transparent screen, while light rain-protective visors could be installed over the girders (9) of light bearing structures (10).

Claims

Claims 1. Transformable roof build over large span structures,

consisting of two symmetrical parts, and comprising the following main components: (i) multiple traversal bearing string elements (1) capable of moving in longitudinal direction; (ii) multiple longitudinal bearing string elements (2); (iii) roof covering (3); where roof transfonnations occur by translation of each half of the roof so that: * when weather conditions are good said roof would be slid completely open with each its said half translated from the center of the structure towards the sides, and stored there in folded state; * when weather conditions are bad said halves are slid towards the center of the structure, thus completely covering the whole area.

2. A roof defined in claim 1 where said traversal bearing string elements (1) are maid from steel cables in form of sags that increase gradually and rapidly in direction from the center of the construction towards the side (traversal) walls (tribunes).

3. A roof defined in claim 1 where said traversal bearing string elements (1) are supplied with bearing anchorage devices (8) that are capable of moving in longitudinal direction, while being inserted in the girders (9) of light bearing structures (10) that are mounted on top of the main (longitudinal) walls (tribunes).

4. A roof defined in claim 1 where said anchorage devices (8) are supplied with washes (12) having flexible ties (13) made for example from strips of serviceable tissue that are applied to said washes (12) in order to facilitate application to said anchorage devices (8) of any means of driving force as well as for fixing said anchorage devices (8) in desired positions.

5. A roof defined in claim 1 where said longitudinal bearing string elements (2) are made from strips of serviceable elastic material in form of arcs.

6. A roof defmed in claim 1 where said longitudinal bearing string elements (2) are attached in joints to said traversal elements (1).

7. A roof defined in claim 1 where said roof covering (3) is made from serviceable elastic waterproof material and is connected to and supported by said bearing traversal and longitudinal string elements (1, 2).

8. A roof defined in claim 1 where all bearing elements in the closed position of said roof appear stretched and prestressed, allowing thereby to use for that purposes the high strength materials, while the light weight materials may be used for roof covering itself.

9. A roof defined in claim 1 where in closed state of said roof said traversal (1) and longitudinal (2) string elements form a spatial prestressed stable construction structure consisting of concave and convex polygons, that allows modeling using calculation scheme of mutually balanced funicular polygons.

10. A roof defined in claim 1 where a chain of chariots (6) connected by a strip (7) from a serviceable tissue is capable of translation along said seam between said halves of the roof.

11. A roof defined in claim 1 where both central most said traversal string elements (1) are supplied with members of elastic cylindrical aprons (5) having their outer surface covered with some antifriction material that contribute to easy translation of said chariot units (6) along said apron members (5).

12. A roof defined in claim 1 where special working platforms (18) are introduced as being positioned in the middle of each said main wall (tribune) opposite one another.

13. A roof defined in claim 1 where main driving devices that are to provide translation of said transformable roof from its closed state to its open state and vise versa include a hook (14) attached to a pull rope (15) of winch (16) that is mounted on said special working platform (18) 14. A roof defined in claim 1 where translation of said traversal bearing elements (1) from their storage positions to their working positions that correspond to the closed roof state is achieved by means of synchronous pull using two said winches (16) preceded by affixing said hook (14) to said washer (12) of said anchorage device (8) belonging to the closest to the central axis said traversal bearing string element (1).

15. A roof defined in claim 1 where during aforementioned translation of each said half of said transformable roof stretching of said hanging ties (13) occurres in sequence predominantly between those said anchorage devices (8) that are in translation and the closest to them not yet translated ones.

16. A roof defined in claim 1 where translation of said traversal bearing elements (1) to their storage positions corresponding to open roof state is achieved in sequential steps by means of activating synchronously two said winches (16) along said main tribunes: first, the second to the last from the central axis said traversal bearing string element (1) gets pulled towards the last from central axis said traversal bearing string element (1); subsequently, provided translation is applied to pull third to the last from the central axis said traversal bearing string element (1) to the second, fourth to third and so on.

17. A roof defined in claim 1 where each said sequential step of translation of said traversal bearing elements (1) to their storage positions corresponding to open roof state is preceded by affixing said hooks (14) to said washers (12) of that specific said pair of anchorage devices (8) that corresponds to the particular step of said translation, while said hooks (14) are attached to pull ropes (15) that go to blocks (17), and said pull ropes (15) get passed over said blocks (17) before they go back to said winches (16).

19. A roof defined in claim 1 where in open position of said transformable roof, said roof covering (3) of each said half of the roof is stored while being stacked in folds only in areas over said side walls (tribunes), where said light supporting structures (10) are enforced so to account for increased design load from said roof covering weight.

20. A roof defined in claim 1 where translation of said cartridges (6) with strip (7) along said seam between said roof halves may also be performed using said system of hook (14), pull rope (15) and winch (16) from said working platform (18).

21. A roof defined in claim 1 where after roof is transformed into the closed state said chariots (6) are translated from one said main tribune to another along the traversal central most string elements with said tissue strip (7) getting stretched over said seam, followed by application of tension to said longitudinal elements (2).

22. A roof defined in claim 1 where before roof is transformed into the open state, tension is removed from said longitudinal elements (2), followed by translation of said chariots (6) to their storage place near the structure wall.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows (3 Claims 1. Transformable roof of large span constructions having in its closed state the main load bearing structure that represents itself a robust net formed by connected in the intersections concave longitudinal and convex traversal string elements, where required rigidity of said net is achieved by tensioning of said longitudinal elements, and where said roof is implemented as two symmetrical parts supplied with a translatable in traversal direction connecting element and composed in light of said span from exclusively non-rigid translatable elements: i. said multiple traversal string elements capable of moving in longitudinal direction; ii. said multiple longitudinal string elements capable of moving in longitudinal direction; iii. roof covering from waterproof elastic serviceable material capable of moving in longitudinal direction, and where said roof transformations from closed to open states and vise versa occur by translations of said roof-halves so that: i. when weather conditions are good, said roof could be transformed into the open state with said roof-halves being each translated in opposite longitudinal directions from the center of the covered construction towards its side/traversal walls/tribunes and stored there, hereby completely exposing the whole area of said large span constructions; ii. when weather conditions are bad, said roof could be transfonned into the closed state with said roof-halves being each translated in opposite longitudjn directions from their storage places at the side/traversal walls/tribunes towards the center of said large span constructions connected to each other and tensioned, hereby completely covering the whole area.

2. A roof defined in claim I where stretching tension is applied only while in closed state of said roof and only to said longitudinal string elements.

3. A roof defined in claim 1 where plurality of said traversal string elements is made in form of sags that increase gradually in opposite longitudinal directions from the center of said roof towards its side/traversal walls, bunes 4. A roof defined in claim I where said traversal string elements are supplied with anchorage devices that are capable of moving in longitudinal directions, for example by being inserted in the girders of light bearing structures that are mounted on top of the main/longjtud walls/tribunes 5. A roof defined in claim 1 where said anchorage devices are supplied with washes having flexible ties made for example from strips of serviceable tissue that are : ... applied to said washes in order to facilitate application to said anchorage devices of any means of driving force as well as for fixing said anchorage devices in desired positions.

6. A roof defined in claim I where connecting element, for example chain of chariots having a strip from an elastic waterproof serviceable tissue attached to them, is located in the middle of said main/longitud walls/tribunes of said covered construction 7. A roof defined in claim I where said connecting element is capable of moving along the seam between said roof-halves in traversa' direction all the way back and forth between the main/longitud wall/tribunes of said covered construction 8. A roof defined in claim I where both central most said traversal string elements are supplied with members of elastic cylindrical aprons having their outer surface covered with some antifriction material that contribute to easy translation of said chariot units along said apron members.

9. A roof defined in claim 1 where special working platforms are introduced as being position in the middle of each said main/1ongjtucjjn wall/tribune Opposite one another.

10. A roof defined in claim I where driving devices, such as for example winches with pull ropes and hooks that are to provide translation of said transformable roof from its closed state to its open state and vise versa are mounted on said special working platforms.

11. A roof defined in claim I where roof transformation into the closed state includes following sequence of main steps: i. Each of said roof-halves is translated in opposite longitud direction from their storage places at the side/traversal walls/tribunes towards the center of said large span covered construction; ii. Connection of said roof-halves is performed, by means of translating said connecting element all the way forward in traversal direction from one main/longid wall/tribune to another; If) iii. Connected said roof-halves are converted into a single enclosure with said robust load bearing net system by means of applying Stretching tension to said longitudinal string elements; iv. Fixtures are applied to said longitudinal string elements to keep them in their stretched state.

12. A roof defined in claim 1 where roof transformaon into an open state includes following sequence of main steps: i. Fixtures are removed from said longitudinal string elements while in their stretched state; ii. Stretching tension is released from said longitudinal string elements with subsequent loss of rigidity of said load bearing net system of said transfonnable mof iii. Said transformable roof is split into two said roof-halves by means of translating said connecting element all the way back in traversal direction from one main/longitujjn wall/tribune to another S.. iv. Each of said roof-halves is translated in opposite longitudinal direction from the center of said large span covered construction towards its o side/trayal walls/tribunes and is stored there. S *S (.