Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
'J jL
OPENAE~LE ROOE'
BACKGROUND OF T~3 INV~:NTION
The present invention relates to an openable roof
comprising a plurality of slidable (movable) roof members
which are of partially sectorial shape when viewed from
above, and wh.ich are arcuately movable along a prescribed
arcuate path about a central aYis of rotation.
Openabie roofs are highly desirable as they provide
sunlight, fresh air, and a sense of freedom when open, ~,Jhile~
~rotecting the interior from adverse weather when closed. To
this end, various types of openable roofs were previously
proposed and developed.
However, most of the openable roofs involve the
following problems:
The configurations of the movable roof members and the
travelling mechanisms for travelling the members are
complicated. In openable roofs, the portion of the opening
is necessarily narrow, and the support for supporting the
movable roof members must withstand a highly concentrated
load from the movable roof members.
SUMMARY OF ~HE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an openable roof wherein the configurations of the
movable roof members, and the travelling mechanisms for
travelling the members, are simplified.
Another object of the invention is to provide an
openable roof where:in th~ portion of the opening i5
relatively broad.
A further object of the invention i.s to provide an
openable roof wherein the load from the movable rooE rnembers
is effectively distributed.
In order to achieve the above objects, the openable roof
in one aspect of the invent:ion includes a plurality of
movable roof members. Each of the movable roof members is of
a qenerally sectorial shape in two-dimensional projection.
The sectorial shape has a radial outer edge portion and a
radial inner edge portion. The outer edge portion of the
movable roof member is movably disposed on an outer arcuate
support. The inner edge portion of the movable roof member
is movably disposed on an inner arcuate support. The outer
and inner arcuate supports are disposed concentrically about
a common axis. Accordingly, each of the movable roof members
is able to revolve around the axis of the arcuate supports so
as to participate in the opening and closing of a sectorial
opening portion provided between the arcuate supports.
With the above construction, the configuration of the
movable roof members, and the travelling mechanisms for
travelling the members, can be simplified and made compact.
Accordingly, the cost of constructing the roof members and
the travelling mechanisms is decreased.
Additionally, since the movable roof members are
disposed on the arcuate tracks, the load from the movable
roof members is effectively distributed on the tracks.
Consequently, -the stability of the whole roof structure can
be improved.
Furthermore, by virtue of the inner arcuate support,
there is provided a sectorial space defined by the inner
support. Accordingly, khe area wherei.n the structllre is
built can be ~elatively small. Thus, the cost of the land
for the structure with the openable roof i9 reduced.
Alternatively, the space saved can be utili~ed for other
purposes.
Moreover, since the roof members are supported on the
pair of arcuate supports, the length of the roof members,
along the radial direction of the arcuate shape thereof, can
be compact. Hence, the bending moment exerted on each of the
roof members can be decreased. The roof members can be
designed so that the mechanical strength thereof is
relatively small and the weight thereof is also small.
Accordingly, the cost of constructing the roof members and
the travelling mechanisms is decreased.
More preferably, the openable roof further comprises at
least one fixed roof member which is disposed at a side of
the sectorial opening. Each fixed roof member is of a
generally sectorial shape in two-dimensional projection.
Each of the sectorial shapes has a radially outer edge
portion and a radially inner edge portion. The outer edge
portion of the fixed roof member is fixedly disposed on an
outer arcuate support. The inner edge portion of the fixed
roof member is fixedly disposed on an inner arcuate support
so that the movable roof member is able to be stored under
the fixed roof member when the roof is open.
In this case, since the movable rooE mernber3 are stored
under the fixed roof members when the roof is open, the
portion of the opening is broader than that of conventional
openable roofs. Thls heightens the ser~se of openness that
people in the structure can feel.
More preferably, each of the flxed and the movable roof
members comprises a section of a sphere, with a subsection
removed, so that the entire openable roof is dome-shaped when
the roof is closed.
More preferably, a pair of said fixed roof members are
provided at both sides of the sectorial opening.
More preferably, a plurality of drive means are provided
under the outer and inner edge portions of the movable roof
members whereby the movable roof members are movably and
drivingly supported on the arcuate supports via the drive
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E ~RAWING~
Figure 1 is a plan view of an openable roof according to
a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the roof
in the closed configuration.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the openable roof in Figure
1, when the roof is in the open configuration.
Figure 3 is a side view of the openable roof in Figure
1, showing a side indicated by arrow III in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the openable roof in Figure
1, showing a side indicated by arrow IV in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the support tracks for
c;
supporting th~ rnovable roof mernbers of the openable roof in
Eiqure 1, and on which the rnovable roof rnembers travel.
Figure 6 is a simplified plan view of an openable roof
according to a second embodirnent of the present invention,
showing the roof in the closed configuration.
Figure 7 is a side view of the openable roof in Figure
6, showing a side lndicated by arrow VII i.n Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the support
tracks for supporting the movable roof members of the
openable roof in Figure 6, and on which the movable roof
members travel.
Figure 9 is a plan view of an openable roof according to
a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the support
tracks for supporting -the movable roof members of the
openable roof in Figure 9, and on which the movable roof
members travel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TH~ PREF~RRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the accompanying drawings, various
preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail hereinafter.
First EmbQ~m~n~
An openable roof 20 according to a first embodiment is
represented in Figures 1 through 5. As shown in Figures 1
through 9, the openable roof 20 is disposed on a multi-
purpose stadium 22 in which baseball games may be played,
concerts performed, and so on.
h ~ u
The openable roof 20 is generally of partially sectorial
~hape in plan view when the roof is closed The openable
roof 20 comprises four separate movable roof mernbers (panels)
24 and 25 (24a, 29b, 25a, and 25b), and a pair of fixed roof
members (panels) 26. Each of the movable and fixed roof
members 29, 25, and 26 is also of a par~ially sectorial shape
in plan view, so that the roof members 24, 25, and 26
cooperate to close off the stadium 22 from the outer
environment. Each of the movable and fixed roof members 29,
25, and 26 is of an arc shape in side view (Figures 3 and 4),
so ~hat the openable rooE 20 is of a dome shape, that is,
generally a portion of a sphere, when the roof 20 is closed.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixed roof members 26
are disposed on both of the sides (wings) of the roof 20.
When the roof 20 is closed off, the movable roof members 24
and 25 intermediate between both the fixed roof members 26.
For clarity, the movable roof members 24 and 25 are
classified into a pair of right wing movable roof members 24
and a pair of left wing movable roof members 25.
In Figure 1, the right wing movable roof members 24 and
the left wing movable roof members 25 are symmetricall~
disposed about the center line 28 of the stadium 22. Each of
the movable roof members 29 and 25 are slidably turned about
the center axis 30 of the partially sectorial roof 20.
Therefore, both of the right wing movable roof members 24 are
lapped under the right wing fixed roof member 26 when the
roof is closed off as shown in Figure 2. Similarly, both the
left wing movable roof members 25 are lapped under the left
~ 3j ~
wing fixed rooE mernber 26.
As shown in Figures 1 through 4, the movable and fixed
roof members 24, 25, and 26 are supported on a pair of
arcuate supports 32 and 3q. The arcuate supports 32 and 34
are disposed in the sarne horizontal plane, and are disposed
on the wall of the stadiurn 22. The radially outer arcuate
support 32 and the inner arcuate support 34 are
concentrically disposed in such a fashion that the above-
~mentioned center axis 30 is the common center of the supports
32 and 34.
The radially outer arcuate edges 36 of the movable roof
members 24 and 25 are slidably disposed on the outer arcuate
support 32. The radially inner arcuate edges 38 of the
movable roof members 24 and 25 are also slidably disposed on
the inner arcuate support 34. Accordingly, each movable roof
members 24 and 25 can perform its own turning motions.
As best shown in Figure 3, the shape of each of the roof
members 24, 25, and 26 is a portion of a sphere, the outer
surface of which forms a generally continuous smooth curved
surface when the roof is closed. However, the imaginary
diameters of the roof members are slightly different from one
another. That is, the imaginary diameter of the fixed roof
members 26 is the greatest since the movable roof members 24
and 25 are stored under the fixed roof members 26 when the
roof 20 is open.
In order to clarify this, the movable roof members 24
and 25 are classified into central movable roof members 24a
and 25a, and side movable roof members 24b and 25b,
hereinafter. Ttle central rnovab1e Loof mem~Jers 24a and 25a
may cover the central part o~ the stadi.um 22. The side
movable roof members 2gb and 25b may cover the sides of the
stadium 22. The central right wing and the central left wing
movable roof ~embers 29 (24a) and 25 (25a) have the same
imaginary dia~eter. The side right wing and left wing
movable roof members 29 (29b) and 25 ~25b) have the same
imaginary diameter. The imaginary diameter of ~he central
movable roof ~embers 24a and 25a is greater than that of the
side movable roof members 24b and 25b, so that the travelling
paths of the central and side movable roof members 24a and
25a do not interfere with each other, and 24b and 25b do not
interfere with each other. Consequently, the central movable
roof members 24a and 25a are disposed over the side movable
roof members 24b and 25b when the roof 20 is open.
A pair of rail-like tracks 40 and 42 are installed on
the upper surface of the radially outer arcuate support 32,
and continuously along the support 32. Similarly, a pair of
rail-like tracks 44 and 96 are installed on the surface of
the radially inner arcuate support 34, and continuously along
the support 34. The tracks 40, 42, 44, and 46 are disposed
in the same horizontal plane.
A plurality of electrically driven wheels 48, for
example, servo-linear-motor-driven wheels, are connected to
the lower surfaces of the arcuate edges 36 and 38 of the
movable roof members 24 and 25, and drivingly disposed on the
tracks 40, 42, 49, and 46 of the radially outer and inner
arcuate supports 32 and 34.
G"l: ~,, t ~, .. ..
As best s~lown irl Eiyures 1 arl(l 5, t~le central rnovable
roof members 2~a and 25a are slidably supported on the tracks
90 and 44. The side movable roof rnembers 29b and 25b are
also slidably supported on the tracks 92 and 46 in order to
avoid interference between the central and side movable roof
members. On ~he other hand, the fixed roof members 26 are
fixedly secured on the supports 32 and 3~.
Next, the operation and function of the above-described
openable roof 10 will be explained hereinafter.
As shown in Figure 1, when the roof 20 is closed, the
central movable roof 24a and 25a are disposed above the
center portion of the stadium 22, and the side movable roof
24b and 25b are disposed above the relatively sides of the
stadium 22. The fixed roof members 26 are always disposed
above the right and left wings. The roof members 24, 25, and
26 are slightly overlapped one over the other. Therefore,
the interior area of the stadium 22 is closed off.
In order to open the roof 20, the right wing movable
roof members 24 are respectively traveled along their own
paths indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, by means o~ the drive
for the wheels 48. The rotational motion of the movable roof
members 24 is stopped when the roof members 24 reach the
right most wing 52 of the stadium 22. Accordingly, the right
wing movable roof members 24 are disposed and stored under
the right wing fixed roof member 26. Similarly, the left
wing movable roof members 25 are disposed and stored under
the left wing fixed roof member 26 at the left-most wing 54.
Thus, an open area defined by both o~ the fixed roof members
3 1 ~ ~ 5 ~
1 0
26 is opened, e~posing ~he inte~Lor, as shown in Figure 2.
When closing off the rnovable roof, the reverse mo~ions
of the movable roof members 24 and 25 may be performed.
Since the widths as well as the horizontal angles of the
movable roof members 24 and 25 are designed to be consistent
in this embodiment, the central and side movable roof members
24a, 29b, 25a and 25b simultaneously reach the right-most or
left-most wing if the central movable roof members 24a and
25a are driven at a angular veloci-ty which is double that of
the right or left-side movable roof members 24b and 25b.
If the angular velocities of all the roof members 24 and
25 are the same, first, the relative location of the central
and the side roof members 29a and 24b (or 25a and 25b) are
kept as in the closed position when travelling. However, the
side movable roof members 24b and 25b reach the side-most
wings 52 or 54, before the central movable roof members 24a
and 25a. Then, the central movable roof members 24a and 25a
travel alone until they reach the side-most wings 52 or 54.
With the above construction, the configuration of the
movable roof members 24 and 25, and the travelling mechanisms
(including the tracks 40, 42, 44, and 46 and the electrically
driven wheels 48) for travelling the members, can be
simplified and made compact. Accordingly, the costs of
constructing the roof members and the travelling mechanisms
is decreased.
In addition, since the movable roof members 24 and 25
are stored under the fixed roof members 26 when the roof 20
is open, the portion of the opening is broader than that of
-
1 1
conventiollal openable roofs. This he:i.ghtens the sense of
openness and freedom experienced ~y ~he audience in the
stadium 22.
Additionally, since the movable roof members 29 and 25
are disposed on the arcuate tracks 90, 42, 94, and 46, the
load from the movable roof members 29 and 25 is effectively
distributed on the trac~s. Consequently, the stability of
the whole roof structure 20 is improved.
Furthermore, by virtue of the inner arcuate support 34,
there is provided a sectorial space 56 defined by the support
39 and the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly, the
area wherein the stadium 22 is built can be relatively small.
Thus, the cost of the land on which the stadium 22 is built
is reduced. Al-ternatively, the space 56 can be utilized for
other purposes.
Moreover, since the roof mernbers 29, 25, and 26 are
supported on the pair of arcuate support 32 and 34, the
length of the roof members 24, 25, and 26, along the radial
direction of the arcuate shape -thereof, can be compact.
~ence, the bending moment exerted on each of the roof members
24, 25, and 26 can be decreased. The roof members can be
designed so that the mechanical strength thereof is
relatively small and the weight thereof is also small.
Accordingly, the cost of constructing the roof members and
the travelling mechanisms is decreased.
Although a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention is described hereinbefore, the present invention is
not intended -to be limited to the first embodiment. Other
~ J~
12
embodiments in accordance with the spirit and ok,jects of the
invention will be descri~ed in the following.
Second_emh~lmQn
Figures 6-8 depict a second embodiment of the present
invention. In the first embodiment, the tracks 40, 42, 44,
and 46 are disposed in the same horizontal plane. In
contrast, as best shown in Fiyure 8, in the second
embodiment, a step may be provided between the level of the
track 44 and the level of the track 46. The movable roof
members 29 and 25 are slidably disposed or, the tracks 44 ar.sd
46 via the electrically driven wheels 48 in a manner similar
to those in the first embodiment. Al-though Figure 8 depicts
only the tracks 44 and 46, the tracks 40 and 42 may be
similarly formed.
~hi~d FmbQdimer,~
Figures 9 and 10 depict a third embodiment of the
present invention. In the third embodirnent, each of the
arcuate supports 32 and 39 comprises four steps on the upper
face thereof. On each of the steps, each of tracks 58 is
installed along the arcuate shape of the corresponding
supports 32 or 34. The movable roof members 24a, 24b, 25a,
and 25b are slidably disposed on the tracks 58 via the
electrically driven wheels 48 in a manner similar to those in
the first embodiment.
In the third embodiment, when the roof 20 is open, all
of the movable roof members 24a, 24b, 25a, and 25b can be
..
,
h ~) ~,J~
1 3
stored under either of the fixed rooE members 26 which are
disposed on the outermost wings of ~he roof 20. Off course,
the right wing and left wing movable roof mernbers 24 and 25
may be stored under the fixed roof members 26 separately, in
the same manner as in the first embodiment.
.
