Membrane roof structure

Claim 2

In combination, a membrane roof and a supporting structure therefor; said supporting structure being joined to said membrane roof substantially at the entire periphery thereof; said membrane roof including a plurality of radially directed segments of a material adapted to be put in tension, each of said segments which is in contact with said supporting structure being attached to said supporting structure so as to transmit forces thereto; each of said plurality of radially directed segments being separated from each segment next adjacent it respectively by a radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member of a material adapted to be put in tension; and each such expansion joint member which is in contact at its outer end with said supporting structure being attached thereto; each said radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member being secured along each side thereof to the respective one of said adjacent segments; each said sheet-like expansion joint member being at least partially convoluted when it is installed at its flat roof position, and less convoluted, essentially flat, when it is stressed in full tension so that said membrane roof may assume a predetermined curved shape with the outer periphery thereof defined at said supporting structure; and a central segment of material adapted to be put in tension, said central segment being separated from the inner ends of each of said plurality of radially directed segments and the inner ends of each of said radially directed expansion joint members by a further, circumferential expansion joint member of sheet-like material adapted to be put in tension and which is secured to said central section around the circumference thereof and to said inner ends of said plurality of radially directed segments and said radially directed expansion joint members.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 further including a sheet of pliable, rubber-like material cemented at each place on said membrane roof where a gap occurs at the inner ends of said radially directed expansion joint members said inner ends and said circumferential expansion joint member, so as to make said entire membrane roof substantially liquid and gas tight.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 further comprising suspension means attached to said supporting structure and adapted to be put in tension so as to suspend said supporting structure and said membrane roof below said suspension means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 where the material of each of said plurality of radially directed segments and said central segment is steel.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 1 wherein the material of each of said plurality of radially directed segments and said central segment, And also the material of said radially directed expansion joint members and the material of said circumferential expansion joint members is, in each case, steel; and where each of said expansion joint members has a substantially flat portion along each side with a convolute formed therebetween, and said flat side portions overlie a portion of each segment on each side of each said expansion joint members and are secured thereto in surface-to-surface contact therewith.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 5 where said supporting structure comprises a hollow steel ring formed of a plurality of steel pipe sections, and said membrane roof and supporting structure have a substantially circular plan configuration.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 4 where said supporting structure is formed of reinforced concrete, and said membrane roof and supporting structure have a substantially circular plan configuration.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 where said supporting structure is pressurized.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1 where said membrane roof is supported by pressurized air at a pressure beneath said membrane roof higher than atmospheric pressure at least sufficient to support the weight of said membrane roof.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 9, further including gauge means, control means and air blower and supply means; wherein said gauge means is adapted to measure length differentials along an arc taken on a diameter of said membrane roof and is connected to said control means and said air blower means to maintain substantially constant differential gauge pressure between the pressurized side of said membrane roof and atmosphere.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 1 further comprising column means adapted to support the weight of said supporting structure.

Claim 13

An enclosed structure comprising a bottom, substantially upright walls and a membrane roof and a supporting structure therefor; said supporting structure being, itself, supported from beneath and said supporting structure being joined to said membrane roof substantially at the entire periphery thereof; said membrane roof including a plurality of radially directed segments of a material adapted to be put in tension, each of said segments which is in contact with said supporting structure being attached to said supporting structure so as to transmit forces thereto; each of said plurality of radially directed segments being separated from each segment next adjacent it respectively by a radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member of a material adapted to be put in tension; and each such expansion joint member which is in contact at its outer end with said supporting structure being attached thereto; each said radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member being secured along each side thereof to the respective one of said adjacent segments; each said sheet-like expansion joint member being at least partially convoluted when it is installed at its flat roof position, and less convoluted, essentially flat, when it is stressed in full tension so that said membrane roof may assume a predetermined curved shape with the outer periphery thereof defined at said supporting structure and a central segment of material adapted to be put in tension, said central segment being separated from the inner ends of each of said plurality of radially directed segments and the inner ends of each of said radially directed expansion joint members by a further, circumferential expansion joint member of sheet-like material adapted to be put in tension and which is secured to said central section around the circumference thereof and to said inner ends of said plurality of radially directed segments and said radially directed expansion joint members.

Claim 14

An enclosed structure comprising a bottom, substantially upright walls and a membrane roof and a supporting structure therefor; said supporting structure being, itself, supported from beneath and said supporting structure being joined to said membrane roof substantially at the entire periphery thereof; said membrane roof including a plurality of radially directed segments of a material adapted to be put in tension, each of said segments which is in contact with said supporting structure being attached to said supporting structure so as to transmit forces thereto; each of said plurality of radially directed segments being separated from each segment next adjacent it respectively by a radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member of a material adapted to be put in tension; and each such expansion joint member which is in contact at its outer end with said supporting structure being attached thereto; each said radially directed sheet-like expansion joint member being secured along each side thereof to the respective one of said adjacent segments; each said sheet-like expansion joint member being at least partially convoluted when it is installed at its flat roof position, and less convoluted, essentially flat, when it is stressed in full tension so that said membrane roof may assume a predetermined curved shape with the outer periphery thereof defined at said supporting structure and a central segment of material adapted to be put in tension, said central segment being separated from the inner ends of each of said plurality of radially directed segments and the inner ends of each of said radially directed expansion joint members by a further, circumferential expansion joint member of sheet-like material adapted to be put in tension and which is secured to said central section around the circumference thereof and to said inner ends of said plurality of radially directed segments and said radially directed expansion joint members.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 12 where said membrane roof and supporting structure therefor are suspended by suspension means from the top of said substantially upstanding wall means.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 where said memBrane roof is supported by air pressure at a positive differential gauge pressure with respect to atmosphere so that the interior of said structure is pressurized with respect to atmosphere.