US3153303A

US3153303A - Building construction

Info

Publication number: US3153303A
Application number: US800678A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Wheeler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-03-20
Filing date: 1959-03-20
Publication date: 1964-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-20
Also published as: GB900910A

Description

Oct. 20, 1964 J. 5. WHEELER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Mardh 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f a5 a4 IN VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS James E. Whee/er J. E. WHEELER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Oct. 20, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. James 5 Wheeler Filed March 20, 1959 ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1964 J. E. WHEELER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 20, 1959 INVENTOR. lames E. Wheeler B M Gil Q;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,153,303 BUILDING CGNSTRUCTION James E. Wheeler, 2256 Kent Blvd. NE, Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Mar. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 800,67 3 Claims. (Cl. 50-49) This invention relates to building construction in general and more particularly to circular buildings and a novel roof construction therefor.

Buildings having open, expansive and unobstructed floor areas are in considerable demand. Such buildings are most needed for public service facilities and are therefore also required to be fireproof. In recent years most buildings of the type mentioned have been built of steel and reinforced concrete.

Concrete or other cementitious material used in building construction is largely provided as preformed members. It is common to have slabs and joist formed of concrete material. The concrete building materials usually also include reinforcing rods and wire mesh. Unfortunately, the use of such materials is quite expensive. Although the material itself is relatively inexpensive there is considerable cost involved in transporting concrete forms to the building site, setting them up, stripping them off, and moving them to storage or the next building site. If preformed concrete members are used the problem is one of transporting and erecting the precast members rather than the forms themselves.

Furthermore, although the present concrete building materials are desirable because of their fireproof nature, there are limitations to their use for wide unsupported overhead spans. Concrete, even though reinforced, is Weak in tension and such tensile forces are imposed across Wide spans by both dead and live loads.

In relatively recent years, prestressed concrete building materials have come into use. Such materials are known as having either pretensioned or posttensioned steel inserts or bands. In pretensioned concrete members the reinforcement is placed in tension within the concrete mold form before the concrete is poured. When the tensioning force is removed the concrete is placed in compression and is capable of carrying greater loads or spanning greater distances than theretofore. Posttensioning requires that a subsequent tensioning force be imposed and held on the reinforcement within or about a concrete member to achieve the same tensile balancing compressive force.

These innovations have only served to increase the size of the preformed concrete member which may be formed and to magnify the problems and cost of shipping the preformed member.

In a previous patent application Serial No. 769,790 filed October 27, 1958 and titled Building Construction, in the name of this inventor, a new and novel form of building construction was disclosed whereby all of the advantages of prestres'sed concrete construction could be obtained without the disadvantages mentioned. Such construction comprises on the job prestressing of high tensile members used to provide a framework for the ob ject being formed and the covering of such members, while in tension, with an airborne and lightweight concrete aggregate. g

It is an object of this invention to disclose further features of improvement in job site prestressed concrete construction.

Among the features of improvement is the use of singular cable or high tensile rod construction to form the tensile load bearing members.

Also among the features of improvement, particularly in circular roof construction, is the use of an annular compression ring formed of polygonal segments joined by connectors. The connectors are also formed to reice ceive the tensionable cable or rod members and, further, to provide tie down means used in applying the pretensioning force to such cables or rods.

Further among the features of improvement disclosed by this invention is the use of peripheral wall forming members for applying the pretensioning forces required.

Still further among the features of improvement disclosed by this invention is the use of vice grips within the inner and outer circular roof forming rings and having one of the rings formed of laminated steel bands.

These and other features of improvement will be more apparent in the illustration and description of one particularly suitable form of building construction within which the teachings of this invention are best applied.

The drawings disclose a circular building including the different features of this invention and useable as an aircraft hangar. Certain features of this inventors copending application Serial No. 691,404, filed October 21, 1957 and titled Aircraft Hangar, now Patent No. 2,964,144, as well as Serial No. 763,974, filed September 29, 1958 and titled Circular Aircraft Hangar and Method of Construction Thereof, now Patent No. 3,075,654, are also incidentally disclosed.

The circular aircraft hangar comprises a central column having a circular roof structure supported thereon. The roof structure is formed by inner and outer annular rings with tensionable members disposed radially therebetween. The inner ring is formed of contiguous and concentrically disposed steel bands. The outer ring is an assemble of cylindrical members arranged to form a polygonal shape and having precast connectors joining the adjacent ends together. The tensionable members are singular cables or rods of high tensile strength which are engaged by vice grips or rod retaining means to the inner and outer rings.

In the construction of the circular aircraft hangar the aforementioned roof framework is elevated on the central column to dispose the outer annular ring at substantially the desired roof height. Thereafter peripheral wall forming members for the building are erected and the outer ring is engaged to such members. Following the addition of suitable reinforcement across and between the tensionable members, the inner roof forming ring is elevated further on the central column, and is secured thereto, to place the tensionable members in tension. Thereafter concrete or other cementitious material is applied to the roof framework as an air-borne aggregate. Subsequently the outer annular ring is disengaged from the wall forming members, which have served as tie downs, and the tension force in the tensionable members becomes a compressive force within the completed roof structure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a circular building, for aircraft hangar use, made in accord with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional side view through the aircraft hangar shown by FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the building roof supporting column and shows the connection of the tensionable roof forming members therewith.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side cross sectional view of the roof structure, near the centercolumn, as shown by FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a part of the outer roof forming compression ring of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the compression ring part shown by FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the outer roof forming compression ring and shows the connection with the wall forming members to provide the pretensi'oning force in the disclosed building construction.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 but is simplified and is principally to show the relation of the compression ring m #19 to the wall forming members after the tensioning force is relieved.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the peripheral wall of the disclosed building.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the proposed. building framework.

The circular building 10 disclosed, includes a central column 20 which supports a conical roof structure 33. A peripheral wall t encloses the space under the roof 30. An opening 69 may be provided within the wall 50 and may be sufficiently large (one-fifth of the wall perimeter) to enable ease of ingress and egress for large aircraft or the like. The opening 60 may be closed by a door 7t) provided in accord with the teachings of my copending application Serial No. 691,404, filed October 21, 1957 and titled Aircraft Hanger, now Patent No. 2,964,- 144; Such a door arrangement is shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2.

The central column 2% is embedded within or secured to a central foundation 11'. In the present instance a flange 12 at the base of the column is secured to the foundation 11 by tie bolts 13 embedded therein. After the roof framework has been erected as will be described, the exterior wall 50 is erected upon an annular foundation 14 arranged concentrically of the central foundation 11. The foundation 14 serves to support the non-load bearing wall 53 and serves as part of a turntable pit 15. In the outfitting of the building as an aircraft hanger, an annular turntable member 16 is disposed within the recess area in accord with the teachings of my copending application Serial No. 763,974, filed September 29, 1958 and titled Circular Aircraft Hanger. A concrete or other floor 17 covers the remainder of the enclosed area.

FIG. 2 shows the use of a worktable 18 and an overhead canopy 19 about the central column 20 in the completed building. The overhead canopy 19 may be used to provide better lighting for the Work area and may include a fabric or other enclosing curtain wall to hold heat within the work area.

Returning now to the description of the building construction itself:

After the central column 20 is erected, the framework for the roof structure is formed about the base of the column. The roof framework, designated 30 in FIG. 3, includes an inner annular ring 31, sleeved about the central column so as to be vertically adjustable, and an outer annular ring 41 in spaced concentric relation thereto. A plurality of singular elastic members in the form of cables or rods 32 are disposed in radial and circumferentially spaced relation between the

rings

31 and 41. The cables or rods 32 are elastic in the conventional sense as this term is applied to high tensile wire rope or rods well known to those skilled in the art relating to prestressed concrete construction; that is, they exhibit a restoring force, when elongated by a tensile stress not exceeding their elastic limit, substantially equal to the tensile stress causing elongation. These cables, or rods, 32 are of high tensile strength and, as will be shown, are subsequently strained under a tensile load which causes the

rings

31 and 41 to serve as tensile and compression rings, respectively.

Theinner tensile ring 31 includes a sleeve portion 33 which is received about the column 20. Disposed in slightly spaced circumferential relation about the sleeve 33 are steel bands 34 to provide a laminated tension load bearing ring. The bands 34 are formed from plate material, rolled to a full circle, butt welded and assembled in the contiguous laminated relation shown. Upper and

lower flange members

35 and 36 secure the bands to the sleeve 33, as best shown by FIG. 4'. Radially disposed saddle or brace members 37 are Welded to ring36 and serve to anchor the ring to the sleeve 33 for greater strength.

The laminated bands 34 are drilled or otherwise formed at regularly spaced intervals to receive the inner ends of the cables or bars 32 therethrough. Within the space between the sleeve 33 and the bands 34 are disposed vice grip cable retaining members or special threaded rod receiving nut members 38. A tapered washer 38 may be used to align the retainer members 33 in a desired angular disposition. If required, the sleeve 33 may be formed to include holes 33 directly behind the retainers 33 to facilitate any adjustment thereof during installation. Bolt fasteners 39 serve to secure the inner ring assembly 31 to the column 3% at. its subsequent elevated position thereon.

The outer or compression ring 41 is formed by a plurality of relatively short length cylindrical members 42, as for example lengths of iron pipe. The members 42 are thus cordal members arranged in tandem to form a polygon and adjacent ends thereof are secured together by preformed connectors 43. The connectors 43 are formed having outwardly divergent side faces and integrally formed collars 44 thereon, over which the members 42 are telescoped and to which they may be welded or riveted. The center section of the connectors 43 are formed to receive vice grip anchors or threaded nut members 45 which retain and secure the outer ends of the tensionable cables or rods 32 thereto.

The connectors 43 are also formed to include ears or depending tabs 46 to which a peripheral plate or band 47 may be secured. Such member subsequently serves as a circular facia about the periphery of the roof structure.

Aclevis 48 is formed on the underside of each of the connectors 43 and, as will be shown, is used in tying down the outer ring 41 while the inner ring 31 is raised to tension the cables or rods 32.

After the assembly of the inner and outer roof forming rings3ll and 41, with the cables or rods 32 therebetween, and having the cables or rods tuned for uniformity, the unit is elevated on the central column 20. The weight of the outer ring 41 and the cables 32, of themselves, will cause the assembly to assume a conical shape and will place the cables or rods 32 under a moderate dead load bearing tension.

The assembly of the

rings

31 and 41, with the cables or rods, 32, is elevated on the column 20 until the outer ring 41 is at the desired height of the outer peripheral wall 50.

The peripheral wall 50, for the disclosed building, is essentially a curtain wall since it is not required to bear the load of the roof 30. The wall 50 is formed with the use of circumferentially spaced and vertically disposed members 51 which initially serve another purpose.

The members 51, subsequently used in forming the peripheral wall 50, are of relatively thin walled (about 7 .bar or strap iron stock and of high tensile strength. They are secured to anchors 52 which are in turn secured by bolt fasteners 53 to the foundation 14, at spaced intervals thereon. The upper ends of the wall forming members 51 are received within the clevis 48 of the connectors 43, and are engaged thereto by a removable taper pin 49.

Reinforcing

rods

54 and 55 are provided between and across the tensionable cable or bar members 32, as shown by FIG. 10. The annular reinforcement members 54 are arranged in concentric relation, with decreased radial spacing towards the outer periphery of the roof framework. The reinforcing members 55 extend between adjacent of the tensionable cables or rods ,32 and are tied to the cables and reinforcement members 54 Where they intersect. The radially disposed reinforcing rods 55 are increased in number near the tensile ring assembly 31 and act as shear bars for greater strength in supporting the weight of the conical roof 30.

Following the addition of the reinforcement of the roof assembly, and being assured that the compression ring 41 is tied down by the members 51, the inner ring 31 is elevated to place the cables or bars 32 under a predetermined tensile force.

In tensioning the bars or cables 32, the wall studs 51 are also placed in tension. While the wall studs are in tension, the wall 50 is formed by having reinforcing

members

56 and 57 arranged vertically and horizontally therebetween. A wire mesh 59 is used between the wall studs 51 and behind the reinforcing rods. Such wire mesh is shown by FIG. 9, but is not shown in FIG. 10. Thereafter the wall studs, reinforcing members, and the wire mesh are covered with a lightweight air-borne cementitious aggregate to a heighth just below the clevis 48 of the compression ring assembly 41. The wire mesh serves as a binder to hold the Wall providing concrete aggregate in place and, as disposed between adjacent wall studs, provides a form of wall panel construction.

While the ring connecting cables or rods 32 are strained in tension, and preferably after the wall 50 is provided, the framework 30' is covered with a lightweight airborne cementitious aggregate 40. After the roof covering material 40 has set, the outer ring 41 is released from the tie down wall forming studs 51 by removing the taper pins 49. The release of the tension force in the cables or rods 32 is thereby transferred into a compressive force within the roof covering cementitious material. Such a force adequately compensates for the otherwise tensile weakness of the roof covering material.

When the taper pins 49 are withdrawn from the clevis 48, the tension in the Wall studs 51 is also relieved. Accordingly, the outerwall 50 of the building is placed in vertical compression.

Thereafter, the clevis joints 48 are reengaged to the wall studs 51 and the space between the upper limit of the wall 50, as first formed, and the roof 30 is filled in. This is done to stabilize the roof structure against uneven Wind and snow loads. The outer wall 50 serves only as a stabilizing curtain wall and does not serve as a true roof supporting Wall structure.

In the course of construction, if desired, large wall openings such as 60 may be readily provided within the wall 50. This is accomplished simply by eliminating the reinforcment and concrete covering at the desired location and by subsequently removing the tie down studs 51 from such wall area. Openings as large as one-fifth of the perimeter of the building may easily be provided. Furthermore, such openings may be provided at any desired location and two such large openings may even be provided on opposite sides of the building.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that other modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A form of building roof construction comprising: a central support, an inner annular ring surrounding said support, said inner annular ring being of a size relative to said central support to enable vertical movement thereof on said support, an outer annular ring spaced concentrically from said inner ring and including a plurality of chordal members disposed in tandem, a plurality of radially disposed strained elastic members anchored between said inner and outer rings, said outer annular ring including also connectors provided between adjacently disposed ends of said chordal members, said connectors having outwardly divergent side faces, the ends of said chordal members abutting said side faces and secured thereto, said connectors having means for anchoring the outer ends of said elastic members and depending tabs for providing tie-down restraint of said outer ring, and a cementitious covering about said elastic members and between said inner and outer rings, said covering being compressed radially between said inner and outer rings by the restoring force of said strained elastic members, substantially the entire dead-load weight of said roof, including said rings, said elastic members and said covering being supported by said central support.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 in which said elastic members extend within said inner annular member and said connecting means and including further, enlarged anchor means engaging opposite ends of each of said elastic members and positioned within said inner annular member and within said connector means, respectively.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 including vertically disposed wall-forming members arranged concentrically about said central column and under said connectors and releasable means for connecting the depending tabs on said connectors to said wall-forming members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,999 Jackson Jan. 3, 1888 865,490 Graham Sept. 10, 1907 1,390,073 Allen Sept. 6, 1921 1,402,077 Lanchester Ian. 3, 1922 1,559,837 Allen Nov. 3, 1925 1,825,800 Houseman Oct. 6, 1931 2,202,850 Guignon Q June 4, 1940 2,411,651 Darby Nov. 26, 1946 2,670,818 Hacker Mar. 2, 1954 2,671,253 Hensley Mar. 9, 1954 2,812,574 Wiggins Nov. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,565 Australia Oct. 20, 1955 205,211 Austria Sept. 10, 1959 218,858 Australia Oct. 7, 1958 235,247 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1945 428,341 Great Britain May 10, 1935 811,716 France Jan. 23, 1937 1,151,949 France Aug. 26, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, September 1956, pp. 221-216. Architectural Record, August 1959, pp. 177-182.