Roof structures of reinforced temperature-hardenable plastic and process for making same

Abstract

Abstract A SELF-STANDING ROOF STRUCTURE IS ERECTED OVER A BUILDING BY INITIALLY FORMING THE ROOF STRUCTURE OF FLEXIBLE, HEATHARDENABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL. AFTER ANCHORING ITS PERIMETER TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY AIR-TIGHT SPACE BENEATH IT, THE FLEXIBLE ROOF STRUCTURE IS INFLATED AND SUPPORTED BY AIR PRESSURE, AND WHILE SO SUPPORTED THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IS HARDENED BY APPLYING HEAT. THIS HARDENING IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING HOT GASES BENEATH THE INFLATED ROOF OR ALTERNATIVELY BY FEEDING HOT FLUID THROUGH DUCTS IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ROOF OR BY A COMBINATION OF THESE HEATING ACTIONS. THE DUCTS THEMSELVES MAY DESIRABLY BE FORMED OF HEAT-HARDENABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL SO THAT THEY BECOME ARCH-SHAPED ROOF BEAMS INCLUDED IN THE SELF-STANDING ROOF FOR STRENGTHENING IT. HEATABLE CONDUCTING ELEMENTS MAY BE IMBEDDED IN OR AFFIXED TO THE ROOF PANELS TO SUPPLY HEAT FOR CURING THE PLASTIC AND LATER ON TO BE USED FOR MELTING SNOW TO PREVENT UNDUE SNOW LOADS. THESE MAY BE ELECTRICALLY HEATED OR PLASTIC TUBE CONDUCTING ELEMENTS OF EACH DIAMETER FOR CARRYING HEATED FLUID SUCH AS HOT WATER. WHILE AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES HAVE BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR VARIOUS USES, PRIMARILY TEMPORARY IN NATURE, THIS INVENTION CAN BE CLASSED AS AN "AIR-ERECTED" STRUCTURE OR AN "AIR-ERECTED" ROOF STRUCTURE INTENDED FOR PERMANENT USES.

Inventors

• 👤 Calvin D Maccracken

Bibliographic Details