A deployable and inflatable roof, wall, or other structure has first and second covers made of flexible panels and cables arranged from edge to edge along the covers. Couplings along the edges of the covers connect the structure to supports, such as rails on which the structure can deploy and other
A deployable and inflatable roof, wall, or other structure has first and second covers made of flexible panels and cables arranged from edge to edge along the covers. Couplings along the edges of the covers connect the structure to supports, such as rails on which the structure can deploy and other supports of a building. Air from blowers blow air in between the covers to inflate the structure like an air cushion. In addition to cables, lateral support for the structure can use struts disposed edge to edge along the covers. Traction or rack and pinion drive mechanisms or cable drive systems can be used to deploy and retract the structure along the rails to cover or open a rooftop or other opening or area of the building.
대표청구항▼
1. A structure to cover an exposed area of a facility, the structure comprising: a flexible first cover;a flexible second cover disposed adjacent the flexible first cover;longitudinal rails disposed along edges of the flexible first and second covers;a plurality of lateral supports extending across
1. A structure to cover an exposed area of a facility, the structure comprising: a flexible first cover;a flexible second cover disposed adjacent the flexible first cover;longitudinal rails disposed along edges of the flexible first and second covers;a plurality of lateral supports extending across the flexible first and second covers from edge to edge; andcouplings disposed along the edges of the flexible first and second covers and connected to the lateral supports, the couplings adapted to ride along the rails,wherein the flexible first and second covers, the couplings, and the lateral supports are adapted to retract in a folded condition away from the exposed area of the facility and to extend in an unfolded condition over the exposed area of the facility, andwherein the flexible first and second covers define at least one plenum adapted to inflate the flexible first and second covers relative to one another. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure deploys as a roof to cover the exposed area of the facility, and wherein the flexible second cover is a bottom cover disposed beneath a flexible top cover as the flexible first cover. 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the flexible first and second covers comprises a plurality of flexible panels arranged laterally from edge to edge. 4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the lateral supports comprise first and second cables affixed respectively to the flexible panels of the flexible first and second covers. 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the first and second covers are arranged as top and bottom covers, wherein the first and second cables are arranged as top and bottom cables, and wherein the bottom cables have a greater length than the top cables. 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the lateral supports comprise first and second cables affixed to the couplings and affixed respectively to the flexible first and second covers. 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the lateral supports further comprise struts disposed between the couplings at the edges of the flexible first and second covers. 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the lateral supports comprise struts disposed between the couplings at the edges of the flexible first and second covers. 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the flexible first and second covers comprise a plurality of flexible panels disposed laterally between adjacent ones of the lateral struts. 10. The structure of claim 8, wherein the flexible first and second covers comprise a plurality of flexible panels disposed longitudinally between adjacent ones of the lateral struts. 11. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of blowers disposed along at least one of the edges of the flexible first and second covers and adapted to blow air in the at least one plenum between the flexible first and second covers. 12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the flexible first cover comprises first longitudinal supports disposed along the edges of the flexible first cover, and wherein the flexible second cover comprises second longitudinal supports disposed along the edges of the flexible second cover. 13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second longitudinal supports connect to the couplings. 14. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second longitudinal supports comprises cables connected to the couplings. 15. The structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one drive adapted to drive the couplings to ride along the rails. 16. The structure of claim 15, wherein the at least one drive comprises drives disposed at at least two of the couplings, the drives adapted to drive the at least two couplings to ride along the rails. 17. The structure of claim 16, wherein the drives each comprise a motor disposed on the coupling and having a pinion gear, the pinion gear interfacing with a rack disposed adjacent the rail. 18. The structure of claim 16, wherein the drives each comprise a traction drive system using an electric motor. 19. The structure of claim 16, wherein the drives each comprise a cable drive system using an electric motor. 20. A method of covering and uncovering an exposed area of a facility, the method comprising: uncovering the exposed area by— deflating first and second covers of a flexible structure, andstacking the first and second covers of the flexible structure in a folded condition relative to the exposed area by running the first and second covers along longitudinal rails; andcovering the exposed area by— spreading the first and second covers over the exposed area in an unfolded condition by running the first and second covers from the retracted condition along the longitudinal rails, andinflating the first and second covers of the flexible structure;wherein running the first and second covers comprises driving couplings on edges of the first and second covers along the longitudinal rails between the folded and unfolded conditions. 21. The method of claim 20, comprising deploying the flexible structure as a roof to uncover and cover the exposed area of the facility. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein stacking the first and second covers of the flexible structure in the folded condition relative to the exposed area comprises successively retracting panels of the first and second covers to the folded condition away from the exposed area of the facility. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein spreading the first and second covers over the exposed area in the unfolded condition comprises successively extending the panels of the first and second covers in the unfolded condition over the exposed area of the facility. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein driving couplings on edges of the first and second covers along the longitudinal rails between the folded and unfolded conditions comprises: driving a pinion gear disposed on the coupling along a rack gear disposed on the longitudinal rail;operating a traction drive system; oroperating a cable drive system. 25. The method of claim 20, wherein inflating and deflating the first and second covers of the flexible structure comprises supporting the first and second covers using first and second cables affixed respectively to the first and second covers of the flexible structure. 26. The method of claim 20, further comprising supporting the flexible structure with lateral struts disposed between the couplings at the edges of the flexible structure. 27. The method of claim 20, wherein inflating the first and second covers of the flexible structure comprises operating a plurality of blowers disposed along at least one of the edges of the first and second covers and blowing air in at least one plenum between the first and second covers. 28. The method of claim 20, wherein running the first and second covers comprises extending or folding longitudinal cables connected at the edges of the first and second covers between the couplings. 29. A structure to cover an exposed area of a facility, the structure comprising: a flexible first cover;a flexible second cover disposed adjacent the flexible first cover;a plurality of lateral supports extending from first edge to edge along the flexible first and second covers; andcouplings disposed along the edges of the flexible first and second covers and connected to ends of the lateral supports,first longitudinal cables disposed along the edges of the flexible first cover and connected to the couplings;second longitudinal cables disposed along the edges of the flexible second cover and connected to the couplings,wherein the flexible first and second covers define at least one plenum adapted to inflate the flexible first and second covers relative to one another. 30. The structure of claim 29, wherein the structure deploys as a roof to cover the exposed area of the facility, and wherein the flexible second cover is a bottom cover disposed beneath a flexible top cover as the flexible first cover. 31. The structure of claim 29, wherein the flexible first and second covers are adapted to fold in a retracted condition away from the exposed area of the facility and to deploy in an extended condition over the exposed area of the facility. 32. The structure of claim 31, further comprising rails disposed along the edges of the flexible first and second covers, the couplings adapted to ride along the rails between the retracted and extended conditions. 33. The structure of claim 29, wherein the flexible first and second covers comprises a plurality of flexible panels arranged laterally from edge to edge. 34. The structure of claim 29, wherein the lateral supports comprise first and second cables affixed to the couplings and affixed respectively to the flexible first and second covers. 35. The structure of claim 29, wherein the lateral supports comprise lateral struts disposed between the couplings at the edges of the flexible first and second covers. 36. The structure of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of blowers disposed along at least one of the edges of the flexible first and second covers and adapted to blow air in the at least one plenum between the flexible first and second covers.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (11)
Stevens Graham A. (55 Colebrooke Row London N.1. GB), Air structure.
Gelinas Richard (Indianapolis IN) Meyer Richard (West Point IN) Hauersperger Gerald (Indianapolis IN) Osswald Steve (Indianapolis IN) Hall Michael (Pittsboro IN) Wetzel Michael (Indianapolis IN), Flexible roof control system.
Cyril J. Silberman ; M. David Sadinsky ; Barton L. Riberich ; Cheuk A. Cheng ; Dick Eide ; Lennart Nielsen ; Michael James Becker ; Timothy John Kline ; Michael R. Riberich ; Jennifer Ann Mc, Transport mechanism for large structures such as retractable stadium rooves.
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