Patent · US Active

Pneumatic structural element

US7836636B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 2006
Grant dateNov 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE04H2015/204
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The pneumatic structural element according to the invention comprises from one to a number of interconnected elements of the following construction: two hollow bodies (1) with casings (9) made of textile material preferably coated in a gas-tight manner and having end caps (5) are assembled such that they produce a common sectional area (2). The edging of this sectional area (2) is formed by two curved tension/compression elements (3) into which is clamped a web (4) made of a flexible material of high tensile strength. By filling the two hollow bodies (1) with compressed gas, a tensile stress σ is built up in their casings (9) and is transmitted directly or via the tension/compression elements (3) to the web (4) and pretensions said web. This pretensioning greatly increases the bending rigidity of the tension/compression elements (3). If a plurality of such elements is combined to form a roof, every two adjacent hollow bodies (1) thus form a sectional area (2) with a tension/compression element (3) and web (4).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.