US3072996A

US3072996A - Roof structure form employing radial cables

Info

Publication number: US3072996A
Application number: US838245A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald E Mcguire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-09-04
Filing date: 1959-09-04
Publication date: 1963-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1963 A G. E. M9Gu|RE 3,072,996

RooF STRUCTURE FORM EMPLOYING RADIAL CABLES Filed Sept. 4, 1959 "0V 8 F761. ef 8 T n GERA/.o .Mssumf United States The present invention relates to a roof structure, and pertains more particularly to a roof structure which can be used either to provide a form for a concrete roof slab, or which can of itself serve as alight weight or temporary roof for a circular building.

The use of a circular building form is of considerable interest in most architectural and building practice. In many small buildings, such as, for example, silos, the use of a circular wall form is almost universal, but in larger buildings such as houses, auditoriums and public buildings, the use of a circular form is sometimes desirable, but the atent provision of a suitable roof structure for such a circular building frequently presents serious problems.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved and simplified roof structure for a circular walled building.

The invention also provides a roof structure for a circular Walled building wherein a plurality of roof panel supporting cables extend radially from a central member, the radially outward ends of the cables being supported by external brackets on the circular wall of the building, the central member being raised by means of a jack structure to place the cables under suitable tension, and roof panels are supported on the cables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roof form structure wherein a plurality of cables extend radially outwardly from a central post, passing through notches provided therefor in the circular wall of a building upon which the roof is to be mounted, the outer ends of the cables being supported by brackets projecting outwardly beyond their respective wall notches, the central post being axially extensible to place the cables `under roof deck supporting tension.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a circular walled building having a roof structure embodying the present invention, a cement slab roof being shown in various stages of completion thereon.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1'.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1. l l

Briey, a roof structure A embodying the invention comprises a central cable anchor member 10 mounted at the top of an extensible center post 11 which is provided with screw means 12 for extending the post axially. A plurality of cables 13 extend radially from the central member 10, one to the outer end of each of a plurality of brackets 14 which are removably mounted, in symmetrically spaced relation, to extend radially outwardly near the upper end of a cylindrical wall structure B. A notch 15 is provided in the Wall B radially inwardly of each bracket 14 to permit an associated' cable 13 to be withdrawn inwardly therethrough after a concrete roof slab C has been completed.

When the cables 13 are all led from their point of connection to the central member 10, through their respective notches 15, and are secured to their respective brackets 14, the center post 11 is extended axially by means of the screw 12 and thereby place the cables 13 under suicient tension to support segmental panels or form boards 17 and 18, which are supported on the cables 13, and are secured against displacement thereon by suitable interconnections 16.

Structural steel, not shown, may be embedded in the concrete slab C as the latter is deposited on the panels 17 and 18.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the illustrated central member 10 is of steel plate, and is in the form of a cone with its wall slope corresponding to that of the roof structure A to be constructed thereon. The central member 10 is provided with a plurality of securing eyes 19 welded marginally thereto, and to which an equal plurality `of the cables 13 may be connected, one to each of said eyes. The specific form of the central member'l and cable attaching means employed are, however, capable of substantial variation by one familiar with the art.

The cables 13 are of uniform length, and the diameter of the cables employed depends upon the stresses to which vthey will be subjected in use. For example, for a silo having an 8 foot radius, and with the number of segments illustrated, steel cables of 1A inch diameter would be adequate. For larger structures the size of the cables would necessarily have to be increased. A suitable cable size for any proposed roof structure can be easily selected by means of conventional engineering calculations.

'I'he center post 11 comprises an upper portion 11a, which may be of steel pipe or tubing of suicient strength to withstand the compression stresses to which it is subjected in use. As illustrated this pipe 11a is mounted on the jack screw 12 adapted to be actuated by a turning handle 12a. A cable 13 is secured, as by means of a conyentional eye splice 20, to each of the mounting eyes 19 provided therefor on the central member 10. The outer end of each of the cables 13 is also provided with a similar eye splice 20 for fitting over a hook 21 provided therefor on the outer end of its respective bracket 14.

A bracket 14 is provided for each of the cables 13, and, as illustrated, comprises a structural steel member having a right angle bend 22 therein. An upright arm 23 of each bracket 14 is secured to the outer face of the circular building wall B by bolts 24, the heads 24a of which are embedded in the concrete of the wall during its construction. The threaded ends of these bolts 24 project outwardly from the wall B, and the upright arm 23 of each bracket 14 is provided with holes therein to receive these bolts. Nuts 25 threaded onto the projecting ends of the bolts 24 secure the brackets 14 rmly to the wall B. Each bracket 14 also has a laterally extending arm 27 which extends outwardly at right angles to the wall B and is provided with the hook Z1 on its outer end to lit into au eye splice 20 of its respective cable 13.

A plurality of the notches 15 are provided in the upper edge of the wall B during its construction, each notch 15 being located radially inwardly of one of the brackets 14 to receive an associated cable 13 therein, and also to permit the cables 13 to be withdrawn through these notches after a concrete roof slab C has been completed.

Where the invention is to be used to provide a form for a concrete roof slab C, the radially inner set of segmental panels 17 is provided, each panel 17 extending from the circular Wall B inwardly to a point adjacent the axial center ofthe wall B. A radially outer set of panels 18 also is provided, each outer panel 18 extending from the outer edge of the wall B outwardly to the ends of the cables 13. Each panel 17 and 18 Vis adapted to cover the segmental space between a pair of adjacent Y cables 13, and, complementarily with each other, the

entire roof area.

Any4 suitable form material may be used for the panels 17 and 18, such as, for example, sheet metal, plywood, hard pressed water proof pulp board or other suitable form `building material; The illustrated panels 17 and 18 that knownras a Gunite gun.

may be of sheet metal, and each has an upstanding bead y the art, and such other types of interconnections may be substituted 4for the bead' and flange type illustrated and described specifically herein. A small plate or cover 28, which may be of sheet metal, is provided over each of the notches to prevent therlatter. from lfilling with concrete during the application of the roof slab C.

The outer end 17a of each Vinner panel 17, and the inner end 18a of each outer panel 18 is curved to conform to the curvature of the wall B. A retaining flange 30 is provided on Vthe outer end of each of the outerV panels 18' to' retain the concrete of the slab C and to square up the outer edge of said slab. This flange 30, as illustrated, comprises a wooden strip secured transversely across the outer end of each outer panel 18 and extending the full width thereof.

In practicing the present invention, after the wall B hasV been constructed with the notches 15'therein vfor the required number of cables 13"to be employed, and the bolts 24 for supporting the brackets 14 are embedded therein as mentioned previously herein, Ithe brackets 14 are applied to the wall B and are secured thereto by means of the nuts 25 threaded onto the bolts 24. The center Vpost 11 inkits retracted condition indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2 is then'set up axially of the wall B, and with'the central member 10 mounted thereon.

rWith thev center post in its thus retracted condition, Ysufficient slack will be available in the cables 13 to permit the spliced eye 20 in the outer end Vof each cable 13 to be looped over. ahook 21 provided therefor on the outer endv of each bracket 14. After thecables 13'have been thus attached-to the brackets 14, the center post 10 is extended axially by turning the Iscrew 12 vto place the cables 13 under'sufcient tension to`support thel loadto which they will be subjected.

Assuming that a concrete roof slab C is to be employed,

the form p`anels'17k and 18 are then fittedl onto the portions of the cables 13 inwardly of the wall B, Vand said panels are interconnected with each otherby placing the hooked flange 16b of each panel over the smaller bead 16a of the panel adjacent thereto. The outer panels 18 are similarly mounted on the outer reaches of the cables 13 from the wall B outwardly, and are similarly interconnected with eachother.

' The vconcrete C is then applied to the panels as illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, either by pouring, or by application with. a pressure spray device such as, for example, Reinforcing steel (not shown) may be embodied in the concrete slab C in a conventional-manner during construction of the slab if desired.

' Afterv the concrete roof slab C has been completed, andhas been allowed to age suicienty to attain adequate strength, the center post 11 is retracted by means of the screw 12Ato its broken Vline position of FIG. 2 to thereby Slack ofI' the cables 13. The brackets 14 are then removed from the wall B, the cables 13 are withdrawn in-kr .in the event that no concrete roof slab C is to be employed, it is preferred that instead of using separate inner and outer panels 17 and 18 in orderto expose the upper 4 edge of the wall B, that continuous panels 32( FIG. l) be employed, extending from the axial center of the wall B .to the outer ends of the cables 13. When such full length panels are employed it will obviously not be necessary to provide the covers 'ZISfor the notches A15, since no concrete roof slab is tobte applied thereon.

The inventionprovide's a simple. inexpensive and easily erectedI roof structure, and one which may either serve as a roof of itself, or which provides a form for the making of a concrete slab roof. Also, while the invention has been described for use with a circular walled building it is obvious that it may be used with a polygonal walled building having any desired number of sides.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred emf bodiment of the present invention, it will be understood, however, that various changes and modications may be madein the details thereof withoutV departing from the scope of the. invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is dened in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A roof form for a building having a floor and a wall encircling said door, said roof form comprising a central member, a plurality of roof panel supporting cables attached at their inner ends to said central member, a plurality of brackets, one for each of the cables, removably attached to the outer face of such wall at spaced intervals therearound and adjacent the upper end thereof, such wall havingv a notch therein radially inwardly of each of the brackets, means on the outer end of each bracket for attachingone of the cables thereto, thereby to support the cables in radial extensionfrom the central member and through the notches inwardly of their respective brackets, and axially extensible center post mounted upright and extending between the central member and a oor of such building, means for axially extending the center post to elevate the center member and thereby place under tension the cables extending from the central member to the brackets, a first plurality of segmental roof panels, each of a size to ll'the space between each adjacent pair of said cables inwardly of thewall, and means for supportving said panels in complementary relation, on the cables, the outer ends ofsaid panels abutting such wall, and a second set of panels each of a size to ll the space between adjacent cables. exteriorly of the wall, whereby when a concrete roof slab is formed on top of the panels and of the wall, after the roof slab has set, upon removing l the central member the cables are slackened, thereby freeing the panels for downward removal from such slab.

2. A roof form for a building having a door and a Wall encircling said oor, said roof form comprising a central member, a plurality of roof panel supporting cables attached at their inner ends to said central members a plurality of brackets, one for each of the cables, removably attached to the outer face of such wall at spaced intervals therearound and adjacent the upper end thereof, such wall having a notch therein radially inwardly of each Vof the brackets, means on the outer end of each bracket for attaching one of the cables thereto, thereby to support the cables in radial extension from the central member and through the notches inwardly of their respective brackets, an axiallyextensible center post mounted upright and extending between the central member and a floor of such building,rmeans for axially vextending the center post to elevate the center member and thereby place under tension the cables extending from the central member to the brackets, a plurality of segmental roof panels, each of a size to fill the space between each adjacent pair of Vsaid cables, means for supporting said panels on the cables between which they are mounted toV prevent displacement thereof when said panels are supported on the cables in space lling relation the outer ends of saidV panels abutting such wall, and terminating inwardly thereof, whereby when a concrete roof slab is;

formed on top of the panels and of the wall, after the roof slab has set, upon retracting the center post to slacken the cables the panels are removable downwardly from the slab.

3. A roof -form for a building having a oor and a wall encircling said oor, said roof form comprising a central member, a plurality of roof panel supporting cables attached at their inner ends to said central member, a plurality of brackets, one for each of the cables, removably attached to the outer face of such wall is symmetrical, spaced relation therearound and adjacent the upper end thereof, such wall having a notch therein radially inwardly of each of the brackets, means on the outer end of each bracket for attaching one of the cables thereto, thereby to support the cables in radial extension from the central member and through'the notches inwardly of their respective brackets, an axially extensible center post mounted upright and extending between the central mem'- ber and a tloor of such building, means for axially extending the center post to elevate the center member and thereby place under tension the cables extending from the central member to the brackets, a plurality of segmental roof panels extending from the wall, inwardly, each of a size to till the space between a pair of adjacent ones of said cables, and means for attaching adjacent panels to each other to prevent displacement thereof when said panels are supported on the cables in space filling relation, thereby leaving the top of the wall exposed, and a' cover plate adapted to mount over each of said notches for excluding concrete therefrom when applying the concrete roof slab, said panels and the exposed top of the wall comprising a form for the casting of a concrete roof slab thereon, the cables being removable through the notches after such roof slab has set for removing support from the panels to free the latter for removal, and the panels being thereby freed for downward removal from the slab.

'14. A roof form for a building having a oor and a wall encircling said oor, said roof form comprising a plurality of brackets, removably attached to the outer face of such wall at spaced intervals therearound and adjacent the upper end thereof, such wall having a notch therein radially inwardly of each of the brackets, means on the outer end of each bracket for attaching a cable thereto, each of the cables being brought inwardly within the wall through the notch inwardly of the bracket lto which said each cable is attached, an axially extensible center post mounted upright substantially centrally of the floor of, such building, means for attaching the inner end of each cable to an upper portion of the center post, means for axially extending the center post to elevate the inner cable ends above their points of attachment to the brackets and thereby place under tension said cables,

6 a plurality of segmental roof panels, each of a size to till the space between a pair of adjacent ones of -said cables, and extending outwardly to such wall, means for supporting said panels, in complementary relation, on the cables, thereby to ll the spaces between the cables and extending outwardly to the wall and thus provide a roof form for the casting of a concrete roof slab thereon.

5. A roof form for a building having a floor and a wall encircling said floor, said roof form comprising a plurality of brackets, removably attached to the outer face of such wall at spaced intervals therearound and adjacent the upper end thereof, su'ch wall having a cable receiving notch therein radially inwardly of each of the brackets, means on the outer end of each bracket for attaching a cable thereto, each of the cables being brought inwardly within the wall through the notch inwardly of the bracket to which said each cable is attached, an axially extensible -center post mounted upright substantially centrally of the Hoor of such building, means for attaching the inner end of each cable to an upper portion of the center post, means for axially extending the center post to elevate the inner cable ends above their points of v attachment to the brackets and thereby place under tension said cables, a first plurality of segmental roof panels,

each of a size to fill the space between a pair of adjacent ones of said cables and to extend outwardly to such wall, means for supporting said panels in complementary relation, on the cables and abutting such wall thereby to ll the spaces between the cables, a second plurality of segmental panels supported in complementary relation between adjacent cables exteriorly of and abuting such wall, whereby the upper portion of such wall is exposed between the two pluralities of panels, and whereby a concrete roof slab cast on said panels as a form is in intimate bonded relation with such exposed wall portion, whereby, after the roof slab has set upon retracting the center post the cables are thereby slackened and the panels are released for downward removal from the roof slab, and upon release of the outer ends of the cables from their brackets the cables are freed for drawing inwardly through the openings provided by the covered notches.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,731 Naylor Apr. 4, 1911 998,575 Hanson July 18, 1911 1,161,115 Duin Nov. 23, 1915 2,670,818 Hacker Mar. 2, 1954 v2,804,028 Wiggins Aug. 27, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record,'September 1956, pages 211-216.

Claims

1. A ROOF FORM FOR A BUILDING HAVING A FLOOR AND A WALL ENCIRCLING SAID FLOOR, SAID ROOF FORM COMPRISING A CENTRAL MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF ROOF PANEL SUPPORTING CABLES ATTACHED AT THEIR INNER ENDS TO SAID CENTRAL MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS, ONE FOR EACH OF THE CABLES, REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO THE OUTER FACE OF SUCH WALL AT SPACED INTERVALS THEREAROUND AND ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, SUCH WALL HAVING A NOTCH THEREIN RADIALLY INWARDLY OF EACH OF THE BRACKETS, MEANS ON THE OUTER END OF EACH BRACKET FOR ATTACHING ONE OF THE CABLES THERETO, THEREBY TO SUPPORT THE CABLES IN RADIAL EXTENSION FROM THE CENTRAL MEMBER AND THROUGH THE NOTCHES INWARDLY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE BRACKETS, AND AXIALLY EXTENSIBLE CENTER POST MOUNTED UPRIGHT AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CENTRAL MEMBER AND A FLOOR OF SUCH BUILDING, MEANS FOR AXIALLY EXTENDING THE CENTER POST TO ELEVATE THE CENTER MEMBER AND THEREBY PLACE UNDER TENSION THE CABLES EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL MEMBER TO THE BRACKETS, A FIRST PLURALITY OF SEGMENTAL ROOF PANELS, EACH OF A SIZE TO FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN EACH ADJACENT PAIR OF SAID CABLES INWARDLY OF THE WALL, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PANELS IN COMPLEMENTARY RELATION, ON THE CABLES, THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID PANELS ABUTTING SUCH WALL, AND A SECOND SET OF PANELS EACH OF A SIZE TO FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN ADJACENT CABLES EXTERIORLY OF THE WALL, WHEREBY WHEN A CONCRETE ROOF SLAB IS FORMED ON TOP OF THE PANELS AND OF THE WALL, AFTER THE ROOF SLAB HAS SET, UPON REMOVING THE CENTRAL MEMBER THE CABLES ARE SLACKENED, THEREBY FREEING THE PANELS FOR DOWNWARD REMOVAL FROM SUCH SLAB.