US3686818A - Expandible reinforcement structure for inflatable domes - Google Patents

Expandible reinforcement structure for inflatable domes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3686818A
US3686818A US878446A US3686818DA US3686818A US 3686818 A US3686818 A US 3686818A US 878446 A US878446 A US 878446A US 3686818D A US3686818D A US 3686818DA US 3686818 A US3686818 A US 3686818A
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Prior art keywords
rods
reinforcing
members
membrane
radially extending
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Expired - Lifetime
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US878446A
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English (en)
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Dante Bini
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Binishells New Systems Ltd
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Individual
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Assigned to BINISHELLS NEW SYSTEMS LIMITED, A CORP. OF CHANNEL ISLANDS reassignment BINISHELLS NEW SYSTEMS LIMITED, A CORP. OF CHANNEL ISLANDS ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BINI, DANTE
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
    • E04G11/00—Forms, shutterings, or falsework for making walls, floors, ceilings, or roofs
    • E04G11/04—Forms, shutterings, or falsework for making walls, floors, ceilings, or roofs for structures of spherical, spheroid or similar shape, or for cupola structures of circular or polygonal horizontal or vertical section; Inflatable forms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
    • E04G11/00—Forms, shutterings, or falsework for making walls, floors, ceilings, or roofs
    • E04G11/04—Forms, shutterings, or falsework for making walls, floors, ceilings, or roofs for structures of spherical, spheroid or similar shape, or for cupola structures of circular or polygonal horizontal or vertical section; Inflatable forms
    • E04G11/045—Inflatable forms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
    • E04H15/20—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT reinforcing elements which elongate during inflation are constructed of two rods, one hooked at one end and the other at the other end, with the unhooked ends free, and the rods slidably disposed within a coil spring. A method of vibrating the inflated structure is also disclosed.
  • a method of erecting a domelike structure by inflation wherein an expandable air impermeable membrane is secured in airtight relationship with a circular foundation curb, expandable reinforcement is disposed thereover, and concrete is then poured over the reinforcement. After the concrete had been properly distributed, air under pressure is pumped under the membrane to inflate the membrane and thereby raise the building.
  • the expandable reinforcement in the aforementioned patent is disclosed as either similar to chain-link fencing or made of a mesh of coil springs, some of which might have a non-stretchable rod or wire therewithin to limit the expansion of the coil springs. Further development has demonstrated that the reinforcement can be improved and that is the primary subject of the present application.
  • a novel means of tamping the concrete by vibration after erection but before setting thereof includes a reel disposed at the top of the dome and a plurality of opposed vibrating means, the reel automatically paying out the length of line to cause the vibrators to move downwardly from the top of the dome, and operators having cable means connected to each of the vibrators to move them meridianally of the dome whereby to cause the vibrators to define a spiral path down the dome and thus vibrate the entire dome.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a reinforcing frame for an inflatable dome shaped building
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view, a part of the complete reinforcing frame
  • FIGS. 2a 2b 2c and 2d are fragmentary views, partly in section and partly in elevation, relating to the anchoring of elements of the frame of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the foundation of the building
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified frame
  • FIG. 5 is a view partly in perspective and partly in section illustrating the compacting of material making up a dome shaped building by vibration
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an inflatable structure and illustrating part of the method of erection.
  • FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 2a through 211 illustrating a linear reinforcing element.
  • the present invention is an improvement on my earlier U. S. Pat. No. 3,462,521
  • the method includes the construction of a circular foundation curb of steel or concrete, which foundation curb has a keyhole slot therein to receive the inflatable annular marginal portion of an air impervious membrane and to be sealed thereto upon inflation of the annular marginal portion.
  • An expandable steel reinforcement is laid over the membrane and connected to the foundation curb, and concrete is then poured over the reinforcement and membrane.
  • the membrane is inflated to thereby elevate the concrete to the configuration of the building being constructed where it is held until the concrete sets.
  • electrical vibrators may be actuated to tamp the concrete. After the concrete sets the membrane can be deflated and removed.
  • the present invention relates to improvements in the reinforcement used in connection with the above-described method and to improvements in the vibrating step of said method.
  • 1 is a circular element, preferably of iron, steel or other tough high tensile strength material, to which there is anchored the frame assembly indicated as a whole by 2, said element 1 being rigidly connected with the foundation curb, shown in dotted line, and indicated by reference numeral 3.
  • a hypothetical polygon for example, and in the case of FIG. 1, an octagon, form the vertices of which there extend the elements 4, shown in FIG. 1 by solid line, which join the adjacent vertices, and elements 5 located along all the possible diagonals, the vertex shown for illustrative purposes being designated by the reference numeral 6.
  • vertex 6 applies equally to all the other vertices of the octagon inscribed within the line defined by the circular element 1 including for example the vertex 7, the diagonal elements extending therefrom being shown in dashed line, and being designated by the reference numeral 8.
  • the hypothetical polygon inscribed in the circle of the element 13 preferably has an even number of sides so that there are elements 14 which pass through the center of the figure enclosed by the element 13.
  • spiral elements which, as stated, constitute the main part of the frame, are anchored to the circular element 13 which is disposed above a foundation curb (not shown in FIG. 2) by means of a spring 15 placed on said element 13 in the manner of FIG. 2a so that there is an automatic uniform distribution along the element 13 of the attachments of the spiral elements 1 l.
  • the element 13 in its turn is connected to the foundation curb by means of U-shaped members 16 forming part of the assembly of frame elements, forming a part of the foundation curb, as will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • normal concrete reinforcing members of iron, steel or the like which are indicated generally by the reference numeral 17 and which are so positioned as to intersect substantially even when the building of which the frame in question is part is erected.
  • these members 17 those extending meridianally, namely, those which reach the center of the figure enclosed by the element 13 and which are indicated by reference numeral 18, have their ends bent around the peripheral element 13 and form a hook with very unequal prongs and the short prong being bent preferably in such a manner as to be disposed together with the longer prong within the spiral element 11 associated therewith.
  • Each meridian element 18 is formed of at least two longitudinal elements 18 a and 18b (FIG. 7) which over-lap within their associated spiral element 11 so as obviously to provide substantial continuity of reinforcement along the meridian even when the building is erected and the meridian has a considerably greater length than that which it has before the erection.
  • the meridian element 18 also includes an end portion 19 which is hooked around peripheral element 13 (FIG. 2b and an opposite end portion 21 which is anchored to a central ring 20 as by bending (FIG. 20 Clearly, other reinforcing members in the reinforcing frame could be formed of two relatively slidable elongated members similar to members 18 a and 18b of reinforcing element 18.
  • FIG. 3 there are shown the frame elements of the foundation curb.
  • a stirrup which has a part 33 which is bent in the manner of a fork and which holds the iron 13 and correspond to the U-shaped element 16 of FIG. 2a
  • the stirrup 32 including its vertical part 34, constitutes a lateral supporting element for a plug 35, further details of which will be presented hereinafter, which is adapted to yield upon the pouring of the curb, the seat for securing the membrane over which there is placed the material for forming the building or structure to be erected, e.g., concrete.
  • the stirrup 32 is held in position by a downwardly extending part 32a which is fastened in the concrete 36 that constitutes the bottom of the foundation trench.
  • the concrete 36 also holds in position a stirrup 37 which, cooperating with stirrup 32 and with a third stirrup 38 of rectangular shape held on a vertical plane by the part 32a of the stirrup 32 and by a part 39 of the stirup 37, defines a seat 40 having a restricted opening wherein the upper part of plug 35 is placed.
  • the aforementioned plug 35 consists substantially of a pair of tubular elements 41 and 42 connected along a generatrix and forming a figure eight with the upper tube 41 thereof being of diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the tube 42. Both tubes 41 and 42 of the plug 35 are air-tight and accordingly each of them forms, in the case of erection of buildings or structures of circular shape, a toroidal chamber. Each of these chambers communicates with the outside through flexible tubes 43 and 44 respectively which pass from the inside to the outside of the perimeter enclosed by the curb which will be produced by pouring in the foundation trench 45 through a pipe 46.
  • non-radial reinforcing members 53 are also extendible in the manner of radial reinforcing members 18 of FIG. 2. That is the, the members 53 are formed of two or more elongated reinforcing rods which are slidably disposed within a spring with one rod hooked at one end and the other at its opposite end. During inflation members 53, in the same manner as members 18, will elongate and bend to conform to the dome shape.
  • the short radially extending reinforcing members 22 of FIG. 2 are omitted (as they may also have been in FIG. 2).
  • members 23 are also not included in FIG. 4 (as well they may not have been in FIG. 2 also).
  • extendible members 18 and 53 include only two reinforcing rods within a coil spring 11, it will be obvious that such member could be made of more than two reinforcing members without departing from the present invention.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a preferred manner of vibrating a cupola-shaped building made of concrete by my method of said aforementioned patent.
  • the cupola-shaped building 61 is covered with an outer membrane 63, preferably of impermeable material such as Hypolon (duPont), polyvinyl chloride, or the like.
  • outer membrane 63 has been placed over the structure prior to erection by inflation of inner membrane 69 although it may be so positioned after inflation.
  • inner membrane 69 Disposed on top of the dome over membrane 63 is'a spool 62.
  • An electric conductor 65 supported by a cable 64 extends to spool 62 and is connected on the one hand to a source of electrical power and energizes the vibrating groups 66 of the type having eccentric masses and slide rollers.
  • spool 62 supports a number of vibrators 66.
  • the spool 62 is held in position by the opposing action of the various vibrators.
  • the spool may also be connected, directly or indirectly, to the reinforcing frame of the building.
  • the rollers 67 of the vibrators act on the outer membrane 63 which covers the mass of concrete 68 that is supported by the inner membrane 69.
  • Spool 62 is of the type that will slowly unwind under the weight and vibration of vibrators 66 whereby to slowly drop the vibrators from the top of the dome to the base thereof.
  • the vibrators 66 have extending downwardly therefrom cords 71 by which, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to pull the vibrators in a latitudinal direction, so that they are forced, upon the unwinding of the cables from the spool 62, to move in spiral paths which cover among them and their length, the entire surface of the cupola-shaped building 61.
  • the operation described is relatively simple and easily performed.
  • the toroidal chamber 41 of the said plug 35 is at least tangent to the upper plane of the curb and has a pressure greater than that to which the chamber 42 is subjected so that there will definitely be no collapse of the chamber 41 so that it is possible after the concrete: in the curb sets to remove the plug 35 and insert, within the seat which has thus been formed, the edge portion of the membrane 69.
  • vibrators 66 thereupon, there will be effected the vibrating of the entire unit by bringing the vibrators 66 into action in the manner described.
  • the membrane 63 makes it possible to avoid the action of the vibrators being counteracted by the lack of a suitable resting surface and by the penetration of fluid material between the rollers.
  • vibrators 66 could be constructed to walk latitudinally, whereby to eliminate the need for laborers to move them around.
  • a plurality of vibrators can be ganged one above the other, whereby to suspend a plurality from a single cable to thus increase the speed of vibration.
  • a reinforcing frame including a plurality of elongated reinforcing members; at least one of said reinforcing members comprising: a pair of elongated reinforcing rods in close parallel relationship; and means connected to said rods for permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween and for preventing substantial transverse relative movement therebetween, said frame further including a plurality of angularly related radially extending members, each of said radially extending members comprising: a pair of elongated reinforcing rods in close parallel relationship; and means connected to said rods for permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween and for preventing substantial transverse relative movement therebetween, the rods in each of said radially extending members each having one end remote from the other rod in said member and the other end adjacent said other rod in said member, and further comprising a peripheral member and a central member, and means for securing the remote ends of the rods in each of said radially extending members respectively to said peripheral member and said central member, said means for permitting longitudinal movement and for preventing

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Reinforcement Elements For Buildings (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
US878446A 1968-11-21 1969-11-20 Expandible reinforcement structure for inflatable domes Expired - Lifetime US3686818A (en)

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IT181868 1968-11-21

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US (1) US3686818A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5018288B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT324635B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA935657A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1958300C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SU (1) SU388418A3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744191A (en) * 1971-12-14 1973-07-10 Birdair Structures Large air supported structures
US3909992A (en) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-07 Us Navy Inflatable ice igloo
US3996320A (en) * 1973-12-17 1976-12-07 Dante Bini Method for making domed skeletal structures of concrete
RU2346123C1 (ru) * 2007-07-06 2009-02-10 Евгений Владимирович Основин Способ бетонирования на пневмоопалубке и устройство для его осуществления
US20110173915A1 (en) * 2008-06-23 2011-07-21 Thomas Hedegaard Platform, in particular interior platform for tubular tower
US9611662B2 (en) * 2014-06-11 2017-04-04 Nicoló Bini Anchoring mechanisms for a Binishell
CN109853974A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2019-06-07 中国建筑第二工程局有限公司 一种用于基坑作业气承膜体系及其施工方法
USD1090899S1 (en) * 2023-12-21 2025-08-26 Amauris Santana Self-inflatable dome

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4296585A (en) * 1978-05-30 1981-10-27 Dante Bini Permanent weather covers

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2591352A (en) * 1948-10-20 1952-04-01 Gen Electric Adjustable door brace construction
GB1027437A (en) * 1963-04-30 1966-04-27 Frankenstein Group Ltd Improvements in or relating to inflatable shelters
US3277219A (en) * 1961-03-27 1966-10-04 Lloyd S Turner Method of molding a building structure by spraying a foamed plastic on the inside of an inflatable form

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2591352A (en) * 1948-10-20 1952-04-01 Gen Electric Adjustable door brace construction
US3277219A (en) * 1961-03-27 1966-10-04 Lloyd S Turner Method of molding a building structure by spraying a foamed plastic on the inside of an inflatable form
GB1027437A (en) * 1963-04-30 1966-04-27 Frankenstein Group Ltd Improvements in or relating to inflatable shelters

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744191A (en) * 1971-12-14 1973-07-10 Birdair Structures Large air supported structures
US3996320A (en) * 1973-12-17 1976-12-07 Dante Bini Method for making domed skeletal structures of concrete
US3909992A (en) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-07 Us Navy Inflatable ice igloo
RU2346123C1 (ru) * 2007-07-06 2009-02-10 Евгений Владимирович Основин Способ бетонирования на пневмоопалубке и устройство для его осуществления
US20110173915A1 (en) * 2008-06-23 2011-07-21 Thomas Hedegaard Platform, in particular interior platform for tubular tower
US8333046B2 (en) * 2008-06-23 2012-12-18 Intellligent Tower Solutions APS Platform, in particular interior platform for tubular tower
US9611662B2 (en) * 2014-06-11 2017-04-04 Nicoló Bini Anchoring mechanisms for a Binishell
CN109853974A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2019-06-07 中国建筑第二工程局有限公司 一种用于基坑作业气承膜体系及其施工方法
CN109853974B (zh) * 2018-12-29 2023-12-22 中国建筑第二工程局有限公司 一种用于基坑作业气承膜体系及其施工方法
USD1090899S1 (en) * 2023-12-21 2025-08-26 Amauris Santana Self-inflatable dome

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA935657A (en) 1973-10-23
SU388418A3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-22
JPS5018288B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-06-27
DE1958300B2 (de) 1978-11-02
AT324635B (de) 1975-09-10
DE1958300A1 (de) 1970-06-11
DE1958300C3 (de) 1979-06-28

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Owner name: BINISHELLS NEW SYSTEMS LIMITED, A CORP. OF CHANNEL

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Effective date: 19820126

Owner name: BINISHELLS NEW SYSTEMS LIMITED, A CORP. OF CHANNEL

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BINI, DANTE;REEL/FRAME:003949/0311

Effective date: 19820126