TENSILE STRUCTURES

Abstract: A tent or like tensile structure comprises a plurality of interconnected inclined struts (1-8), arranged to form a series of A-frame supporting members interconnected at their bases in a polygonal configuration (17-24). The frames are located by tensile members pulling them outwardly against further tensile members (13-24) interlinking opposed A-frames. Material covers the structure and the walls (2a) and/or roof (1a) formed of the covering material can consitute some at least of the tensile members.

Description: T-KN5ILE STRUCTURES This invention relates to tensile structures intended primarily, although not exclusively, for use in the construction of tents and related portable structures. It is an object of the invention to provide a tensile structure which is light-weight, compact and simple to erect. It is further intended to produce a structure of enhanced stability, free cf complex constructional problems. According to the present invention, there is provided a tensile structure comprising a plurality cf interconnected inclined struts arranged to form a series of A-frame supporting members inter- . connected at their bases in a polygonal configuration with tensile members serving to locate the A-frames by pulling the frames outwardly against further tensile members interlinking opposed A-frames, the structure being covered by material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a tensile structure comprising a plurality of interconnected inclined struts arranged to form a series of A-frame supporting members inter¬ connected and anchored at their bases in a polygonal configuration with a recpective anchored tcnεilε member extenc.i g from the apex of e c A-frame OMPI to pull the frame outwardly against further tensile members interlinking opposed A-frames, the structure being covered by material. It is especially preferred that respective pairs of further tensile members extend from the anchoring point of each anchored tensile member to the bases of the A-frame from which the anchored tensile member extends. Suitably, at least some of the tensile members pulling the A-frames outwardly are guylines. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the tensile members pulling the A-frames outwardly comprise walls of the material cover of the structure. Suitably, at least some of the tensile members interlinking opposed A-frames are guylines. Additionally or alternatively, the tensile members interconnecting opposed A-frames comprise the roof of the material cover of the structure. Suitably, some at least of the further tensile members which, in the preferred embodiment extend from the anchoring points to the bases of τhe A-frames, comprise a wall of the material cover of the structure. Advantageously, the structure of the invention is in a "fold-up" form in which the struts are permanently joined together by hinged joints and the material cover and tensile members are perr.anently OMPI attached to the framework. A floor or groundsheet may be used upon the ground area enclosed by the structure of the invention. This floor or groundsheet may be used to replace some of the tensile members. The structure of the invention can be constructed in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials v/ith versitile application characteristics. In the case of "fold-up" forms, the ratio of erected size to folded size is similar to that of a conventional framed tent structure. However, erection of the "fold-up" form is simpler and easier than conventional tents since all of the struts can be permanently joined and self-locating. Since the structure can be produced in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, they have flexible application potential, for exa-mple in use as camping tents, shelters, basic housing, marquees, fielfl units, schools, travelling exhibitions and theatres. It is possible to link any number of individual framework structures formed of series of A-frame supporting members to form multi-celled units of any size to extend the range of use. Constructional simplicity and the use of repetitive panels permit the use of a wide ran-re o:.!?ι — A — of covering materials without sacrificing structural stability. The following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of structures of the invention in accordance with the preferred embodiment. In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one structural framework in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of Figure 1 with a material covering; Figure 3 further illustrates the four A-framed figuration; Figure 4 illustrates interlinking of identical structures; Figure 5 is a projected plan configuration; Figure 6 illustrates a plurality of linked structures; and Figure 7 shows a further configuration of linked structures. In the drawings, structures in accordance with the invention consist of inclined struts (1-8, Figure l), tensile members (9-24, Figure l), and anchorage points (25-32, Figure l). All rembers are of fixed length. The structures also include a roof (la, Figure 2), walls (2a, Figure 2) an a flcor (3a, Figure '?. ) , o? ?ι all of which can be fixed or detachable. The roof can be used to constitute the tensile members 9, 10, 11 and 12 (Figure l). The walls can be used to constitute one or more of tensile members 13, 14, 15 and 16 (Figure 1). Either the walls or the floor can be used separately or together to constitute tensile members 17-24 (Figure l). Those tensile members which are not constituted by the roof, walls or floor are constituted by guylines. Adjacent struts are inclined in opposite directions and adjacent ends are linked as joints 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 (Figure l) to form a closed framework with alternating high points 33, 34, 35 and 36 (Figure l) and low points 26, 28, 30 -and 32 (Figure l). The joints may be hinged to give a fold-up structure or rigidly fixed when erected to give a demountable structure. Where a structure is fold-up and a compact folded size is important, the struts can be made in sections with lockable hinged joints at points 37-42 (Figure l). Opposite pairs of high points at 33 and 35, 34 and 36 (Figure 1) are linked together by tensile members 9 and 10 and each high point is linked to one of the anchorage points (see below). Opposite pairs of low points 26 and 30, 28 and 32 (Figure l) are linked together by tensile members 11 and 12. Olr, rl The structure is anchored at each of the low points and points 25, 27, 29 and 31 (Figure l). The anchorage points are linked horizontally by tensile members 17-24 (Figure l). The links between the high points and the relevant anchorage points may be vertical (an in Figure l) or inclined (as in Figure 3). In Figures 3, 4 and 5, B indicates the base line of a wall, S indicates the inclined struts, ? indicates the line of projected plan, T indicates the tensile members, H indicates the high points and indicates the lev/ points. The projected plan form of the structure, i.e. geometric form obtained by projecting the lines of the struts onto a horizontal plane, is a polygon. Figures 1, 3 and 4 show three of the possible configurations. Figure 1 is an octagon with one strut per plan side; Figure 3 is a square with two struts per plan side; and Figure 4 is a rectangle with two struts per short side and four struts per long side. In each case, the struts are inclined in a plane which is perpendicular to the projected plan. The roof is attached at its perimeter to the struts (see Figure 2). It consists of two identical but handed sections which are repeated to rrive the characterstic wave form. The walls are normally fixed between the struts and the perimeter of the projected plan (Figure 2) but other configurations are possible (Figures 3 and 5). Any number of individual structures can be linked together to form multiple units (Figures 6 and 7). Referring again to Figure 1, the structure is held rigid by the interaction of compressive and tensile members. The low points are anchored to points which are determined by the plan form and size. The high points are located by combination of the struts linking them to the low points, by the tensile members linking pairs of high points (9 and 10), and by the tensile members linking them -to the anchorage points, e.g. tensile member 13 links high point 33 to anchorage point 25. The anchorage points are located by the tensile members linking them to the lov/ points, e.g. anchorage point 25 is linked to lov/ point 32 by tensile member 17 and to low point 26 by tensile member 18. The roof is maintained in tension by the inter¬ action of elements 9 and 10 pulling it up, elements 11 and 12 pulling it down and the rigid perimeter struts resisting these forces. Thus, all of the points are located positively by linked, fixed length members--with three or four members acting on each point. The procedure of erection is the same for all forms so for simplicity only one form is now described. For non-fold-up orms elements must be supported whilst joints are made. The struts are unfolded in pairs (l and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8) and locked. The location of one low point, e.g. 32, is selected and that low point is anchored to the ground. Struts 4, 5, 6 and 7 are then pulled away from struts 1, 2, 3 and 8 as far as they will go and low point 30 is anchored to the ground. Struts 4 and 5 and struts 3 and 2 are pulled away from struts 6 and 7 and struts 1 and 8 respectively as far as they will go in one movement and low points 26 and 28 are anchored to the ground. In all cases the hinged joints and the groundsheet limit the maximum amount of travel and, therefore, the correct locations for the low points are defined. Anchorage points 23, 27, 29 and 31 are then pulled away from the structure as-far as they will go (fixed by the horizontal tensile members) and fixed to the ground. The structure is then erected. It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular details described above with reference to the drawings and that numerous modifications and variations can be made to those details without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. In particular, pairs or greater numbers of the inclined struts (1-8) could be rigidly connected together and/or the apices of the A-frames could be curved instead of angular. Further, the inclined struts could be curved in, for example, one plane or two planes rotating about the apex.

Claims: CLAIMS • - 1. A tensile structure comprising a plurality of interconnected inclined struts arranged to form a series of A-frame supporting members interconnected at their bases in a polygonal configuration with. tensile members serving to locate the A-frames by pulling the frames outwardly against further tensile members interlinking opposed A-frames, the structure being covered by material. 2. A tensile structure as claimed in Claim 1 compris- ing a plurality of interconnecting inclined struts arranged to form a series of A-frame supporting members interconnected and anchored at their respective bases in a polygonal configuration v/ith a respective ' anchored tensile member extending from the apex of each A-frame to pull the frame outwardly against further tensile members interlinking opposed A-frames, the structure being covered by material. 3. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein at least some of the tensile members pulling τhe A-frames outwardly comprise walls of the material cover of the structure. 4. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tensile members interconnecting opposed A-frameε comprise the roof of the material cover of the " - IJ : - 5. A structure as claimed in Claim 2 wherein respective pairs of further tensile members extend from the anchoring point of each anchored tensile member to the bases of the A-frame from which the anchored tensile member extends. 6. A structure as claimed in Claim 5 wherein some at least said further tensile members comprise a wall of the material cover of the structure. 7. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 produced in "fold-up" form wherein the struts are permanently joined together by hinged joints and the material cover and tensile members are permanently attached to the framework. 8. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a plurality of individual framework structures formed by series of A-frame supporting members are linked to form a multi-structured unit. 9. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 v/herein four A-frames are interconnected to provide an octagonal projected plannar configuration. OMPI

Inventors: NEWBERRY MICHAEL RICHARD, NEWBERRY, MICHAEL, RICHARD
Applicants: NEWBERRY MICHAEL RICHARD, NEWBERRY, MICHAEL, RICHARD
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A45F1
IPC codes: E04H15