Large air supported structures

Claim 2

A large air supported structure of at least spherical sectioned configuration for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cable system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein centermost cables of said groups intersect at approximately 60* angles adjacent the crown of said structure and said groups of cables cooperate to define interstices approximating relatively uniformly sized equalateral triangles, and joining means fixedly interconnecting said cables at all the points of intersection thereof; and an air inflatable envelope for supporting said cables above said base support in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having elements thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching siad envelope to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope elements in registration with their associated cable interstices and transfer envelope loads into said cable system.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said cables are continuous along the surface of said structure and anchored at their respective ends to said base support.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed by a plurality of panels, at least some of said panels are of diamond shaped configuration and define two envelope elements for closing two adjacent interstices, said panels of diamond shaped configuration being marginally attached to cables bounding said adjacent interstices, and said envelope includes means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed by a plurality of panels of essentially triangular shaped configuration, each of said panels defining one of said envelope elements and being marginally attached to said cables bounding an associated interstice by said attaching means, said panels having double curvature configuration wherein the radii of curvature thereof are substantially smaller than the radii of curvature of said structure, and Said envelope includes seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 16, wherein said envelope is formed by a plurality of panels of essentially triangular shaped configuration, each of said panels defining one of said envelope elements and being marginally attached to said cables bounding an associated interstice by said attaching means, said panels having double curvature configuration wherein the radii of curvature thereof are substantially smaller than the radii of curvature of said structure, and said envelope includes seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 7

A large air supported structure for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cable system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein centermost cables of said groups intersect at approximately 60* angles adjacent the crown of said structure and said groups of cables cooperate to define interstices approximating equalateral triangles of relatively uniform size and joining means fixedly interconnecting said cables at all the points of intersection thereof; and means for supporting said cables above said base support in upwardly arched and tensioned condition, said means for supporting said cables comprising an air inflatable envelope arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, said envelope comprising a plurality of triangular panels, each of flexible, air inflatable material and each aligned with a particular interstices with which it is associated, attaching means attaching each panel along its marginal edges to the portions of the intersecting cables which bound the interstice with which each panel is associated for obtaining relatively uniform distribution of load in said cables, and seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 8

A large air supported structure for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cable system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein centermost cables of said groups intersect at approximately 60* angles adjacent the crown of said structure and said groups of cables cooperate to define interstices approximating equalateral triangles of relatively uniform size and joining means fixedly interconnecting said cables at all the points of intersection thereof; and means for supporting said cables above said base support in upwardly arched and tensioned condition, said means for supporting said cables comprising an air inflatable envelope arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, said envelope comprising a plurality of triangular panels, each of flexible, air inflatable material and each aligned with a particular interstices with which it is associated, attaching means attaching each panel along its marginal edges to the portions of the intersecting cables which bound the interstice with which each panel is associated for obtaining relatively uniform distribution of load in said cables, and seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 6, wherein said cables are continuous along the surface of said structure and anchored at their respective ends to said base support.

Claim 10

A structure according to claim 6, wherein said structure additionally includes in combination: an air inflated, work access shelter, said shelter being dimensioned so as to provide an enclosure covering a plan view area of said envelope in excess of at least one of said panels, said shelter including tie down means removably attachable to said cabling system and means adapted to form a fluid seal with said envelope, whereby said shelter may be selectively anchored to said structure above one of said panels in a fluid seal relationship to portions of said envelope bounding said one panel such that when inflated, said shelter provides a weather protection enclosure for workmen on the exterior of said structure and reduced differential in pressure across said one panel so as to facilitate repair or replacement thereof.

Claim 11

A structure according to claim 6, wherein said cabling system includes anchoring devices, said anchoring devices being adapted to extend outwardly of said structure through said envelope, and said structure additionally includes in combination: an air inflated work access shelter, said shelter being dimensioned so as to provide an enclosure covering a plan view area of said envelope in excess of at least one of said panels, said shelter including tie down means removably attachable to said anchoring devices and means adapted to form a fluid seal with said envelope, whereby said shelter may be selectively anchored to said structure above one of said panels in a fluid sealed relationship to portions of said envelope bounding said one panel such that when inflated said shelter provides a weather protection enclosure foR workmen on the exterior of said structure and reduces differential in pressure across said one panel so as to facilitate repair or replacement thereof.

Claim 12

A structure according to claim 6, wherein said panels include marginal edge portions and apex portions formed by intersecting marginal edge portions thereof, said marginal edge portions being disposed adjacent said cables bounding said interstices and said apex portions being disposed adjacent said joining means interconnecting said bounding cables, and said attaching means includes first means adapted to removably attach said panel marginal edge portions to said bounding cables and second means adapted to attach said panel apex portions to said cable joining means.

Claim 13

A structure according to claim 10, wherein said panels include load transmitting means extending along said marginal edge portions and through said apex portions thereof, and said first and second means removably attaching said load transmitting means to said bounding cables and said cable joining means.

Claim 14

A structure according to claim 6, wherein said joining means comprise an upper plate, a lower plate and two intermediate plates, said plates being clampingly secured in a stacked relationship by clamping bolts removably received within aligned plate apertures, facing surface portions of adjacent plates defining recesses in which said cables are clampingly secured.

Claim 15

A structure according to claim 12, wherein anchoring devices are adapted to be removably affixed to said upper plates, said anchor devices extending outwardly of said structure through said envelope, and said structure additionally includes in combination: an air inflated work access shelter, said access shelter being dimensioned so as to provide an enclosure covering a plan view area of said envelope in excess of at least one of said panels, said access shelter including tie-down means removably attachable to said anchoring device and means adapted to form a fluid seal with said envelope, whereby said access shelter may be selectively anchored to said structure above one of said panels in a fluid sealed relationship to portions of said envelope bounding said one panel such that when inflated said shelter provides a weather protection enclosure for workmen on the exterior of said structure and reduces differential in pressure across said one panel so as to facilitate repair or replacement thereof.

Claim 16

A structure according to claim 13, wherein said seal means include overlapping flap seal devices carried along marginal edges of adjacent panels and cap devices, said cap devices being secured to said joining means, and said anchoring devices extending upwardly through said cap devices.

Claim 17

In an air supported structure of the type including a base support, an air inflated envelope peripherally attached and sealed to balloon upwardly above said base support and assume a predetermined shape having at least a portion of spherical section, and a cabling system attached to said base support and maintained in tension by said envelope whereby also to assume said predetermined shape, the improvement wherein: said cabling system consists of at least three main cable sections each anchored at one end to said base support and each extending from such anchor point to the crown of the spherical section along a great circle arc thereof, the anchor points of said main cable sections being spaced to provide included angles between any pair of adjacent main cable sections, said cabling system including groups of further cable sections in which the cable sections of each group are parallel and in which at least some of said groups are parallel with said three main cable sections, said three main cable sections and said groups of cable sections being arranged to provide a network of cable sections criss-crossed to define similar relatively uniform triangular interstices, and means fixing said cable sections in said network at all of the points of cable crossings whereby to limit and control the distribution of stresses in said envelope within said spherical section; and said envelope comprising a plurality of triangular panels, each of flexible material and each aligned with a particular interstice with which it is associated, attaching means attaching each panel along its marginal edges to the portions of the intersecting cables which bound the interstice with which each panel is associated for obtaining relatively uniform distribution of load in said cables, and seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 18

In an air supported structure of the type including a base support, an air inflated envelope peripherally attached and sealed to balloon upwardly above said base support and assume a predetermined shape having at least a portion of spherical section, and a cabling system attached to said base support and maintained in tension by said envelope whereby also to assume said predetermined shape, the improvement wherein: said cabling system consists of at least three main cable sections each anchored at one end to said base support and each extending from such anchor point to the crown of the spherical section along a great circle arc thereof, the anchor points of said main cable sections being spaced to provide included angles between any pair of adjacent main cable sections, said cabling system including groups of further cable sections in which the cable sections of each group are parallel and in which at least some of said groups are parallel with said three main cable sections, said three main cable sections and said groups of cable sections being arranged to provide a network of cable sections criss-crossed to define similar relatively uniform triangular interstices, and means fixing said cable sections in said network at all of the points of cable crossings whereby to limit and control the distribution of stresses in said envelope within said spherical section; and said envelope comprising a plurality of triangular panels, each of flexible material and each aligned with a particular interstice with which it is associated, attaching means attaching each panel along its marginal edges to the portions of the intersecting cables which bound the interstice with which each panel is associated for obtaining relatively uniform distribution of load in said cables, and seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.

Claim 19

A large air supported structure of at least spherical sectioned configuration for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein cables within each said group include a central cable lying along a great circle arc within a great circle plane passing through the crown of said structure and secondary cables lying along non-great circle arcs substantially within secondary planes, each said secondary plane of a group being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said great circle plane of said group and intersecting therewith along a substantially common line spaced from the center of curvature of said structure, said central cables of said groups intersecting at said crown at approximately 60* angles, said secondary cables of two of said groups intersecting with said central cable of a third of said groups at common points spaced substantially equally apart in a direction lengthwise thereof such that said groups of cables cooperate to define substantially equally sized interstices of triangular shaped configuration, and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cables at all points of intersection thereof, and an air inflated envelope for supporting said cables above said base support in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having elements thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope elements in registration with cable interstices and transfer envelope loads into said cable system.

Claim 20

A large air supported structure of at least spherical sectioned configuration for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein cables within each said group include a central cable lying along a great circle arc within a great circle plane passing through the crown of said structure and secondary cables lying along non-great circle arcs substantially within secondary planes, each said secondary plane of a group being arranged at an acute angle with respect to said great circle plane of said group and intersecting therewith along a substantially common line spaced from the center of curvature of said structure, said central cables of said groups intersecting at said crown at approximately 60* angles, said secondary cables of two of said groups intersecting with said central cable of a third of said groups at common points spaced substantially equally apart in a direction lengthwise thereof such that said groups of cables cooperate to define substantially equally sized interstices of triangular shaped configuration, and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cables at all points of intersection thereof, and an air inflated envelope for supporting said cables above said base support in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having elements thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope elements in registration with cable interstices and transfer envelope loads into said cable system.

Claim 21

A large air supported structure of the type having generally cylindrical center section and generally spherically shaped end sections for use as a stadium cover or the like comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of three groups of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship and fixedly interconnected at common points of intersection by joining devices such that said cables cooperate to define interstices of triangular shaped configuration, one of said groups including a central cable and secondary cables extending lengthwise of said structure between said spherical end portions thereof, said central cable of said one group lying within a plane vertically bisecting said structure through the crowns of said end sections, said secondary cables of said one group lying within secondary planes arranged at acute angles with respect to said bisecting plane and intersecting therewith along a substantially common line extending lengthwise of said structure and spaced from the center of curvature thereof, said cables of the other of said groups of said cables extending in opposite directions diagonally of said structure and intersecting said central cable of said one group at common points spaced substantially equally apart in a direction lengthwise of said cylindrical section and said end sections, saiD cables of said other groups intersecting with said center cable intermediate said crowns being arranged at substantially 60* angles relative thereto; an air inflatable envelope for supporting said cables above said base support in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having portions thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope portions in registration with their associated cable interstices and transfer envelope loads into said cable system.

Claim 22

A large air supported structure of the type having generally cylindrical center section and generally spherically shaped end sections for use as a stadium cover or the like comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a reinforcing cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of three groups of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship and fixedly interconnected at common points of intersection by joining devices such that said cables cooperate to define interstices of triangular shaped configuration, one of said groups including a central cable and secondary cables extending lengthwise of said structure between said spherical end portions thereof, said central cable of said one group lying within a plane vertically bisecting said structure through the crowns of said end sections, said secondary cables of said one group lying within secondary planes arranged at acute angles with respect to said bisecting plane and intersecting therewith along a substantially common line extending lengthwise of said structure and spaced from the center of curvature thereof, said cables of the other of said groups of said cables extending in opposite directions diagonally of said structure and intersecting said central cable of said one group at common points spaced substantially equally apart in a direction lengthwise of said cylindrical section and said end sections, saiD cables of said other groups intersecting with said center cable intermediate said crowns being arranged at substantially 60* angles relative thereto; an air inflatable envelope for supporting said cables above said base support in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having portions thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope portions in registration with their associated cable interstices and transfer envelope loads into said cable system.

Claim 23

A large air supported structure for use as a stadium cover or the like comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a cabling system, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a lattice work having interstices of substantially like configuration and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cables at all the points of intersection thereof; an air inflatable envelope for maintaining said cables above said base support in loaded condition, said envelope being formed from a plurality of separate panels formed of flexible air inflatable material and configured to substantially conform to said interstices, attaching means for removably and separately attaching said panels to portions of said cabling system bounding said interstices, and removable sealing means disposed outwardly of said cabling system and attaching means for providing a fluid seal between adjacent envelope panels, said panels individually representing a relatively small surface area of said envelope; anchoring devices, said anchoring devices being fixed to said joining means and extending outwardly of said structure through said envelope; and an air inflated work access shelter, said shelter being dimensioned so as to provide an enclosure outwardly covering a relatively small portion of said surface area of said envelope sufficient to bound at least one of said panels, said shelter including tie down means removably attachable to said anchoring devices and means adapted to form a fluid seal with said envelope, whereby said shelter may be selectively anchored to said structure above one of said panels in a fluid sealed relationship to portions of said envelope bounding said one panel such that when inflated said shelter provides a weather protection enclosure for workmen on the exterior of said structure and reduces differential in pressure across said one panel so as to facilitate repair or replacement thereof.

Claim 24

A large air supported structure for use as a stadium cover or the like comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a cabling system, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a lattice work having interstices of substantially like configuration and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cables at all the points of intersection thereof; an air inflatable envelope for maintaining said cables above said base support in loaded condition, said envelope being formed from a plurality of separate panels formed of flexible air inflatable material and configured to substantially conform to said interstices, attaching means for removably and separately attaching said panels to portions of said cabling system bounding said interstices, and removable sealing means disposed outwardly of said cabling system and attaching means for providing a fluid seal between adjacent envelope panels, said panels individually representing a relatively small surface area of said envelope; anchoring devices, said anchoring devices being fixed to said joining means and extending outwardly of said structure through said envelope; and an air inflated work access shelter, said shelter being dimensioned so as to provide an enclosure outwardly covering a relatively small portion of said surface area of said envelope sufficient to bound at least one of said panels, said shelter including tie down means removably attachable to said anchoring devices and means adapted to form a fluid seal with said envelope, whereby said shelter may be selectively anchored to said structure above one of said panels in a fluid sealed relationship to portions of said envelope bounding said one panel such that when inflated said shelter provides a weather protection enclosure for workmen on the exterior of said structure and reduces differential in pressure across said one panel so as to facilitate repair or replacement thereof.

Claim 25

A large air supported structure having at least a portion of a spherical section for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of pre-stretched cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein cables within each said group include a central cable lying essentially along a great circle arc within a great circle plane passing through the crown of said structure and secondary cables lying essentially along non-great circle arcs substantially within secondary planes arranged at acute angles with respect to said great circle planes of their associated groups, said central cables of said groups intersecting at said crown at approximately 60* angles, said secondary cables of any two of said groups intersecting with said central cable of a third of said groups at common points spaced apart in a direction lengthwise thereof whereby said groups of cables cooperate to define substantially uniformly sized interstices of triangular shaped configuration, and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cablEs at all points of intersection thereof, and and air inflated envelope for supporting said cables above said base portion in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having substantially uniformly sized elements thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope elements to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope elements in registration with their associated cable interstices and to permit the development of essentially uniform cable loadings under envelope inflation pressure.

Claim 26

A large air supported structure having at least a portion of a spherical section for use as a stadium cover or the like, comprising in combination: a base support for said structure; a cabling system anchored to said base support, said cabling system being formed of a plurality of pre-stretched cables arranged in an intersecting relationship so as to define a pattern consisting of three groups of cables wherein cables within each said group include a central cable lying essentially along a great circle arc within a great circle plane passing through the crown of said structure and secondary cables lying essentially along non-great circle arcs substantially within secondary planes arranged at acute angles with respect to said great circle planes of their associated groups, said central cables of said groups intersecting at said crown at approximately 60* angles, said secondary cables of any two of said groups intersecting with said central cable of a third of said groups at common points spaced apart in a direction lengthwise thereof whereby said groups of cables cooperate to define substantially uniformly sized interstices of triangular shaped configuration, and joining means for fixedly interconnecting said cablEs at all points of intersection thereof, and and air inflated envelope for supporting said cables above said base portion in an upwardly arched and loaded condition, said envelope having substantially uniformly sized elements thereof closing said cable interstices and said envelope being arranged in a substantially fluid sealed relationship relative to said base support so as to form a substantially air tight enclosure reinforced by said cabling system, and attaching means for attaching said envelope elements to said cables, whereby to retain said envelope elements in registration with their associated cable interstices and to permit the development of essentially uniform cable loadings under envelope inflation pressure.

Claim 27

A structure according to claim 19, wherein said envelope is formed by a plurality of panels of flexible material and of essentially triangular shaped configuration, each of said panels defining one of said envelope elements and being marginally attached to said cables bounding an associated interstice by said attaching means, and said envelope includes seal means for sealing between marginal edges of adjacent panels.