Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SPECIFICATION
OPENABLE DOME-SHAPED ROOF STRUCTURE AND
A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME
Technical Fleld
The present invention relates to a dome-shaped
roof structure and, more particularly, to the
dome-shaped roof structure capabIe of being partly
opened according to weather.
Background Art
As is generally known, structures for athletic
games, such as baseball games and athletic sports, are
not provided with the roof so that athletic activities
can he practiced in a natural environment. However,
without the roof, athletic activities are obliged to be
interrupted or to be called off if rain begins to ~all
during athletic activities or on a rainy day.
Recently, all-weather stadiums have been proposed
and roos, for example, a pneumatic film roof
structure, for all-weather stadiums have become the
object of attention.
However, the pneumatic film roof structure has the
following disadvantages.
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First, when an athletic stadium has the roof of a
pneumatic film structure formed of films of a synthetic
resin or -the like, the athletic stadium is filled with
pressurized air having a pressure slightly higher than
the atmospheric pressure, and hence the athletic
stadium needs to be sealed so that the pressurized air
will not leak outside, which requires entrances and
exits of a complicated construction for spectators and
the like.
Secondly, such an athletic stadium makes internal
lighting and ventilation difficult and spoils the
enjoyment of practicing or watching athletic sports in
a natural environment.
Disclosure of Invention
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to provide dome-shaped roof structure which
is capable of being partly opened according to weather
condition for enabling daylighting and ventilation on a
fine day so that athletic sports can be practiced in a
natural environment or outdoors and for enabling
practicing athletic sports in a comfortable condition
even on a rainy day, and which is capable of being
easily opened and closed.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a method of securely and efficiently
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constructing such an openable dome-shaped roof
structure.
In order to achieve the objects of the invention,
the present invention provides an openable dome-shaped
roof structure which comprises a dome-shaped stationary
roof section fixedly secured at an outer periphery
thereof to an external wall constructed on the ground,
an opening formed at the substantially central portion
of the stationary section, and a plurality of movable
roof units corresponding to and capable of covering a
plurality of divisions of the central opening,
respectively, and each being pivotably secured at one
end thereof to a support located near the circumference
of the central opening. The movable roof units are
driven for turning on their pivots to close or to open
the central opening.
I'he movable roof units are opened or closed
according to the environmental conditions, such as
seasonal conditions or weather conditions, whereby a
comfortable internal space may be always provided.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a
plurality of beams are extended radially from the
center of the central opening to the circumference of
the central opening, and the movable roof units are
supported on the beams, respectively, when closed~ A
guide member of a circular arc having its center on the
junction of the beam and the circumference of the
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central opening may be provided between the beam and
the stationary roof section to guide the movable roof
unit for turning motion.
In ~ un~e~ - the present invention,
movable roof units are arranged along the circumference
of the central opening in an alternate up-and-down
arrangement so as to support each other. The movable
roof units are turned simultaneously to open or close
the central openlng. In this case, it is preferable to
provide each movable roof unit with a guide rail having
a predetermined shape and a roller capable of rolling
along the guide rail of one of the adjacent movable
roo~ units.
According to the present invention, a method is
also provided which is directed to construction of the
stationary roof section of the dome-shaped structure
and which comprises the steps of: pivotably securing
an outer end of each of a plurality of frame members
corresponding to radial divisions of the stationary
roof section, to a fixed annular beam; attaching an
arcuate compression beam to an inner end of each frame
member; disposing expansion joints between the adjacent
compression beams; making up stationary roof units by
mounting necessary parts on the frame members, with the
inner ends of the frame members being placed on the
ground surrounded by a side wall; and lifting up the
respective inner ends of the stationary roof units
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until the roof units are arranged in a predetermined
slope where the expansion joints are rigidly fixed.
Thus, according to the present invention, since the
stationary roof units are assembled substantially on
the ground level, they can be assembled safely and only
the least preparatory work is required. Furthermore,
since the roof units of the stationary roof section can
be assembled individually, the roof can be efficiently
constructed.
The above and other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent from the following description of the
preferred embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an openable
dome-shaped roof structure according to a first
embodiment of the present invention, in which the roof
is in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the openable dome-shaped
roof structure of Fig. 1, in which the roof is in an
open position;
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of
assistance in explaining the turning motion of movable
roof units of the roof structure;
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Flg. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the
movable roof unit and a guide member of the roof
structure;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of an openable dome-shaped
roof structure according to a second embodiment of the
present invention, in which the roof is in an open
position;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
of the roof structure of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the
relation between the movable roof units of the roof
structure of Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the movable roof
units during closing motion;
Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the movable roof
units when completely closed;
Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of
assistance in explaining the turning motion of the
movable roof unit of the roof structure of Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of
assistance in explaining the curvature of the roof;
Figs. 12 to 15 are plan views showing variations
of the openable dome-shaped roof structure of Fig. 5,
in which the figures denoted by numerals with a suffix
"A" and the figures denoted by numerals with a suffix
"~" show an open position and a closed position of the
same roof structures, respectlvely;
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Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are a sectional view, an
enlarged fragmentary plan view and a plan view,
respectively, of assistance in explaining a
construction method according to an embodiment of the
present invention, in which Fig. 22 the construction is
completed; and
Fig. l9 is an illustration of assistance in
explaining a construction method according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention
Figs. l to 4 show an openable dome structure, in a
first embodiment, according to the present invention,
as applied to an athletic stadium such as a baseball
stadium. Stands 12 for spectators are constructed
inside a generally cylindrical external wall 10 having
an open upper end, and a field 14 for athletic sports
is formed in the central area of the enclosure formed
by the external wall 10.
A convexly curved annular stationary roof section
16 having a circular central opening 18, which
corresponds to the field 14, is fixed along the outer
periphery thereof to the upper end of the external wall
10 .
A plurality of beams 22, eight beams 22 in this
embodiment, are extended radially from the inner
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periphery of the stationary roof section 16 to an
annular beam 20 which is located at the center of the
central opening 18, thereby dividing the central
opening 18 into eight sectional divisions.
The beams 22 and the stationary roof section 16
have trussed structures. Two guide members 26 each
having the shape of an arc of a circle with its center
on an axis 24, which passes the junction of the beam 22
and the circumference of the central opening 18, are
extended from each beam 22 to the stationary roof
section 16. Substantially half the length of each
guide member 26 is extended over the stationary roof
section 16. The inner guide member 26a comprises only
a guide rail along which a roller attached to backside
of a movable roof unit rolls, while the outer guide
member 26b is provided with a similar guide rail for
engagement with a roller, and a rack (not shown) which
engac]es a gear wheel attached to the movable roof unit
and to be driven rotatively.
Eight movable roof units 28 having the same
curvature as that of the stationary roof section 16 are
placed on the guide members 26. Each movable roof unit
28 has a substantially triangular shape similar to the
sectorial division formed by dividing the central
opening 18 by the beams 22 and is pivoted at one end
thereof for turning motion about the axis 24. Rollers
30 which roll along the guide rails provided on the
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inner guide member 26a and the outer guide member 26b,
respectively, and a gear wheel (not shown) which
engages the rack provided on the outer guide member
26b, are attached to the backside of each movable roof
unit 28. One corner of each movable roof unit 28 to be
located near the center O of the central opening 18
when the roof unit 28 is in a closed position, is bent
up to form a raised part 28a.
When the gear wheels attached to the movable roof
units 28 are driven electrically, pneumatically or
hydraulically so as to turn the movable roof units 28
about the axes 24 along the guide members 26 toward the
center O of the central opening 18, the raised parts
28a of the movable roof units 28 are brought into
abutment with each other to close the central opening
18. Thus the stationary roof section 16 and the
movable roof units 28 complete the dome-shaped roof to
cover the interior of the athletic stadium.
On the other hand, when the movable roof units 28
are turned radially outward from the closed position,
the roof units 28 are shifted onto the stationary roof
section 16 along the guide members 26 to open the
central opening 18.
During the operation of the roof units 28, loci
~I, II) of the turning motion of the ad3acent roof
units partly overlap each other as illustrated in Fig.
3. However, since the respective inner corners of the
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roof units 28 are bent up to form the raised parts 28a,
the roof units 28 do not interfere with each other, and
hence all the movable roof units 28 can be
simultaneously turned without trouble. Thus the
movable roof units 28 can be quickly opened or closed.
Means to prevent the mutual interference of the movable
roof units 28 is not limited to such raised parts 28a.
It is also possible to prevent the mutual interference
of the movable roof units 28 by, for example, disposing
the adjacent movable roof units 28 on different levels
respectively.
In the first embodiment, each movable roof unit 28
is illustrated to have a triagular shape having a
straight base, namely, the outer side. However, it is
preferable that the movable roof unit 28 is formed in a
sectorial shape of which outer side has an arcuate
configuration having the same radius as that of the
circumference of the central opening 18.
The shape of central opening 18 need not
necessarily be circular but may be polygonal, and the
number of the movable roof units 28 is not limited to
eight but may be an optional number.
In the openable dome-shaped roof structure thus
constituted, the central opening is clo~ed by turning
the movable roof units 28 toward the ce~ter of the
central opening to prevent the leak of rain into the
interior of the stadium or to shield the interior of
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the stadium from the rain or sunshine, athletic sports
can be practiced or a gathering can be heid even on a
rainy day or on a shining hot day. On the other hand,
in the intermediate season or on a fine day, the
central opening is opened by shifting the movable roof
units 28 onto the stationary roof section 16 for
practicing athletic sports or the like under the sky.
Furthermore, when the central opening is covered with
the movable roof units in using the stadium at night,
the movable roof units reflect light to enhance the
effect of illumination.
An openable dome-shaped roof structure, according
to a second embodiment of the present invention is
shown in Figs. 5 to 11. The significant difference
from the first embodiment is that each movable roof
units in the second embodiment is supported by the
adjacent ones and any fixed structure such as beams
does not exist in the central opening.
That is, the dome-shaped roof structure shown in
these figures comprises a stationary roof section 16
having a circular central opening 18, and six petaline
movable roof units 40a through 40f.
As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 11, the
stationary roof section 1~ and the movable roof units
40a to 40f are portions of spherical surfaces cehtered
at P, respectively. The radius of curvature of the
movable roof units 40a to 40f is slightly greater than
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that of the stationary roof section 16.
In view of the curvature of the movable roof units
40a to 40f, the distance between the adjacent apices of
each of the movable roof units 40a to 40f is slightly
greater than the radius of the central opening 18.
More concretely, each roof unit has a configuration, in
plan view, formed by three circular arcs ~ 2 and ~ 3
which interconnect apices of a regular triangle having
a side length R 2,-~ (see Fig. 11). The arcs Ql
and ~z are convex with respect to the respective sides
of the triangle, while the arc ~, is concave with
respect to the corresponding side of the triangle, as
illustrated in Fig. 5.
The plane shape of each of the movable roof units
40a to 40f i5 not limited to the illustrated one and,
for exarnple, the concave circular arc ~ 3 may be
substituted by a convex circular arc similar to the
circular arc ~ and ~2'
The six petaline movable roof units 40a to 40f are
pivotably supported at apices X on pins 42 which are
arranged at regular angular intervals (60-) along the
circumference of the central opening 18, respectively.
The distance between the adjacent pins 42 in a straight
line is equal to the radius R of the central opening
18. These pins 42, about which the peitaline movable
roof units 40a to 40f are turned, are tilted so that
the axes thereof pass the center P of the spherical
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surfaces. As illustrated in Fig. 7, recesses 44 are
formed in the movable roof units 40a to 40f around the
pins 42, respectively, to prevent the interference
between the adjacent movable roof units.
Furthermore, the adjacent movable roof units are
arranged one over the other. That is, as is apparent
from Figs. 8 and 9, with particular attention to the
movable roof units 40a, 40b and 40f, the roof unit 40b
partly overlaps the left-hand unit 40a which, in turn,
partly overlaps the roof unit 40f on the left-hand side
thereof. This arrangement applies also to the rest of
the movable roof units.
Driving mechanisms as illustrated in Fig. 7 are
provided in the overlapping areas of the roof units 4Oa
to 40f, respectively. The same driving mechanism is
used for each roof unit, and hence the driving
mechan1sm provided between the movable roof units 4Oa
and 40f will be described. Steps 48 and 46 are formed
in the overlapping areas oE the petaline movable roof
units 40a and 40f, respectively. A guide rail 50
having a T-shaped cross section is fixed on the step 46
of the unit 40f and extends along the curved surface of
the roof unit 40f. The guide rail 50 is curved in
parallel to the upper surface of the petaline movable
roof unit 40f. The longitudinal shape`of the guide
rail 50 is designed so that a set of rollers attached
to the movable roof unit 40a will not derail therefrom
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when the movable roof units 4Oa and 40f are turned
simultaneously and at a same speed to close the central
opening 18. The guide rail 50 terminates at a position
near the pin 42 of the petaline movable roof unit 40f.
On the other hand, rotatably secured to the step
48 of the roof unit 40a are a driving roller 52 that
rolls along the upper sur~ace of the guide rail 50, a
pair of horizontal rollers 54 that roll along the
opposite sides of the flange of the guide rail 50,
respectively, and a pair of vertical rollers 56 that
roll along the underside of the flange of the guide
rail 50. The set of five rollers 52, 54 and 56 is
provided at each of the two apices Y and Z of the roof
unit 40a, except the apex X where the roof unit 40a is
pivoted. The distance between the set of the rollers
52, 54 and 56 provided at the apex Y and the pin 42 is
approximately equal to R2 and, in this embodiment, the
distance between the set of the rollers 52, 54 and 56
provided at the apex Z and the pin 42 is also
approximately equal to R 2. However, the latter
distance may be any optional distance.
As illustrated in Figs~ 7, 8 and 9, guide rails 58
similar to the guide rails 50 extend over the
stationary roof section 16. The height of each guide
rail 58 from the surface of the stationary roof section
16 is adjusted so that the guide rails 50 and 58 are on
the same spherical surface. The longitudinal shape of
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the guide rail 58 is substantially a circular arc with
radius substantially equal to R2 and centered at the
pin 42, which corresponds to the locus of the set of
the rollers 52, 54 and 56 provided at the apex Z.
When the petaline movable roof units 40a to 40f
are turned simultaneously toward the center O of the
central opening 18 by electrically, pneumatically or
hydraulically driving the driving rollers 52 for
rotation, the dome-shaped roof structure is completed
to close the central opening 18 as shown in Fig. 9.
During the turning motion, since the roof units 4Oa to
40f are arranged alternately one over the other, the
adjacent roof units support each other. When the
driving rollers 5~ are rotated in the reverse
direction, the roof units 40a to 40f are turned
radially outward to open the central opening 18 as
shown in Fig. 5.
The turning motion of the movable roof units will
be more specifically described hereinafter with
reference to Fig. 10 showing the respective loci of the
roof units 40a and 40f.
When the movable roof units 40a and 40f are turned
simultaneously toward the center of the central opening
18 at the same speed, the two sets of the rollers 52,
54 and 56 provided at the apices Z anq Y: of the unit
4Oa move a locus passing through points AO ~ Al ~ A2
A3 and on a locus passing through points BO ~ Bl ~ B2
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B3, respectively. On the other hand, the guide rail 50
on the roof unit 40f shifts through C0 ~ Cl ~ C2 ~ C3,
in view of which the guide rail 50 is designed so that
the rollers 52, 54 and 56 will not derail therefrom, as
described above. Accordingly, the roof unit 40a is
always supported at three points by the pin 42 and the
two sets of the rollers 52, 54 and 56 during the
turning motion, and therefore the roof unit 40a is
turned stably.
In this embodiment, a small space remains
uncovered in the central opening 18 when the roof units
40a to 40f are in the closed position, as shown in Fig.
9. This small space, however, may be covered with one
of the roof units 40a to 90f. In this second
embodiment, the central opening 18 is opened completely
when the roof units 40a to 40f are turned to the open
position. Accordingly, the second embodiment gives
free and spacious feeling more than the first
embodiment.
Although the second embodiment is provided with
six petaline roof units to close the central opening,
the number of the roof units may be optional and
several exemplary variations will be described
hereinafter with reference to Figs. 12 to 15.
The openable dome-shaped roof structures shown in
these figures are provided with four, five, seven and
eight petaline movable roof units 40, respectivelyu
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Also, tne shapes of the roof units 40 in these roof
structures are different from each other.
The variations shown in Figs. 12A, 12B, 13A and
13B have less number of roof units than the second
embodiment and the pins 42 are arranged at regular
angular intervals of 90~ and 72-, respectively. Each
movable roof unit 40 is defined by a linear side Q 4
extending from the pin 42 in a clockwise direction, an
arcuate side ~s extending from the end of the linear
side ~ 4 within the central opening 18, an arcuate side
~ 6 with radius R extending radially outward from the
pin 42, and a concaved arcuate side ~7 interconnecting
the sides Qs and ~ 6 .
A set of the rollers 52, 54 and 56 is provided at
each of the apices Y and Z. Guide rails 50 and 58 are
provided along the arcuate side ~5 and on the
stationary roof section 16, respectively, to guide the
rollers 52, 54 and 56.
The variations shown in Figs. 14A, 14B, 15A and
15B includes more number of movable roof units than the
second embodiment and the pins 42 are arranged at
regular angular intervals of approximately 51.4~ and
45, respectively. The shape of each roof unit 40 for
these variations is substantially the same as that of
the roof units shown in Figs. 12A, 12Bi, 13A and 13B
except that the roof unit 40 shown in Figs. 14A to 15B
has a linear side Q4 extending from the pin 42 in a
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counterclockwise direction and that the apex Z is
flattened.
In the openable dome-shaped roof structure having
more than or less than six petaline movable roof units,
the roof units are controlled in the same manner as
those of the second embodiment to open or close the
central opening 18.
A construction method according to the present
invention will be described hereinafter~ The method is
mainly directed to the construction of the stationary
roof section of the above-described openable
dome-shaped roof structure. The processes of a
preferred embodiment of the method are shown in Figs.
16, 17 and 18.
Referring to Figs. 16 to 18, indicated at 60 is
the ground of an athletic stadium such as a baseball
ground, and a numeral 62 denotes a practically circular
structure constructed around the ground 60. The
structure 62 has an external wall (a side wall) and
stands declining in steps from the external wall toward
the ground 60. The above-mentioned stationary roof
section 16 is built on the external wall.
The stationary roof section comprises a plurality
of frame members 64 arranged around the center Q af the
structure 62. An outer or base end of each frame
member 6~ is secured pivotably with a pin 58 on a fixed
annular beam 66 fixedly disposed along the upper end of
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the external wall of the structure 62. An arcuate
compression beam 70 is attached to each frame member 64
to define the inner side, namely, the side facing the
central opening. The adjacent compression beams 70 are
joined together by hydraulic or mechanical expansion
joints, respectively.
A temporar~ post is set up for every frame member
64 at a position near the outer end thereof. A tension
member 76 having one end connected to the inner side of
the frame 64 is extended via the top of the temporary
post 74.
Each frame 64 is assembled with the outer side
being supported on the annular beam 66 by the pin 68
and the inner side being placed on the ground 60.
After the frame 64 has been assembled, the components
o a roofing structure, such as struts, principal
rafters, purlins and common rafters, and roofing plates
or films are assembled on the frame 64 to complete a
roof unit for the stationary roof section 16.
After all the stationary roof units have been
completed, the tension members 76 are wound to turn the
frames (stationary roof units) 64 on the corresponding
pins 68 so that the respective lnner sides of the units
64 are lifted up. As the units 64 are turned upward,
the clearances between the adjacent co~pression beams
70 are decreased, which is absorbed by the contraction
of the expansion joints 72~ The clearances decrease
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until the units 64 are turned to a hoxizontal position,
and then increase again as the units 64 are turned
further upward. After the units 64 have been disposed
a-t a predetermined pitch, the expansion joints 72 are
fastened rigidly to complete a stationary roof section
having a central opening.
In Fig. 18, areas E shaded with dots correspond to
the roofing extended over the roof units 64.
Triangular areas F defined between the adjacent areas E
may be roofed by extending the roofing over the units
64 or may be roofed separately after fixing the units
64 in place. The temporary posts 74 may be removed
after the stationary roof section has been completed or
may be reserved for use as supports or as maintenance
facilities.
Another method according to the present invention
is shown in Fig. 19. In this embodiment, the
stationary roof units 64 are lifted up by a crane 80
installed on the ground 60. The use of a lifting
machine in combination with the crane 80 will enable
the units 64 to be lifted up more securely.
According to the embodiments described
hereinbefore, the stationary roof units are assembled
with the annular beam 66 bein~ ~ixed on the external
wall, however, the annular beam 66 needinot necessarily
be secured to the external wall in advance but it is
also possible to lift up the annular beam 66 onto the
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external wall and to fix the same at a predetermined
position after assembling the stationary roof section
entirely on the ground.
As is apparent from the foregoing description,
according to the present invention, the processes of
constructing the frame members and finishing the roof
units are carried out practically on the ground level
with the frames being supported on the ground, and
hence large-scale timbering including temporary
standards is unnecessary and temporary works including
the construction of scaffoldings and preventions of
danger can be reduced greatly. Furthermore, the
reduction of construction work on an elevated level
effectively reduces labor~ Since the method according
to the present invention greatly reduces preparatory
works including timbering, the work for constructing
the roof structure can be started at an early time.
Still further, since the plural frame members and roof
units can be simultaneously fabrlcated, the period of
the construction work can be curtailed. Moreover,
assembling the stationary roof units practically on the
ground level facilitates inspection and eliminates the
danger of work on an elevated level. The combined
effect of the above-mentioned advantages reduces the
construction cost, and hence the method according to
the present invention is particularly suitable for an
openable dome-shaped roof structure which, in general,
is costly.
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