Patent GB-588208-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to marquees and like tents
IPC: E04H15/18
Filed: 1945-02-05
Abstract: 588,208. Erecting tents and marquees ; lattice beams. EDGINGTON & CO., Ltd., J., HILTON, J. E., FLIN, K., LEWIS, J. W., and GOOSEY, T S. Feb. 5, 1945, No. 2884. [Classes 20 (i) and 20 (ii)] [Also in Group XXX] A framework for a marquee or like tent comprises a pair of upright poles, a ridge member, means for raising the ridge member to a position adjacent the upper ends of the poles, and means for automatically locking the ridge member in place as it reaches its erected position. The upright poles 21 which are of circular uniform cross-section and may be built up from two tubes 22, 23 connected by an internal sleeve, are provided near their bases with winches 34 which are rotatable about the poles to be turned out of the way when not in use, but prevented from vertical movement by collars 27, 28 welded to the poles. Cables 36 from the winches pass over pulleys 53 at the tops of the poles and are secured to sleeves 25, Fig. 3, surrounding and sliding freely on the poles. Each sleeve 25 carries near its base a U-shaped member 42 through the ends of which pass a bar 43 upon which one end of the ridge member 44 is supported by means of slots 92 in flanges 90, 91, Figs. 4a and 5, extending longitudinally beyond the ends of the ridge member. When the ridge member has been hooked to the sleeve 25 it is locked by catches 93 closing the ends of the slots 92. To erect the tent, after erecting the poles the ridge member is fitted to the sleeves 25 near the base of the poles and the sleeves and ridge then hoisted by the winches. The upper part of each sleeve 25 carries two symmetrically arranged pairs of lugs 48, 49 between each pair of which extends a pin 50. As the sleeves and ridge are raised these pins contact the hooked ends 66 of obtuse angled triangular plates 56, 57 pivoted at their obtuse angles to lugs 58, 59 secured to the poles near their upper ends. The pins 50 push the hooked ends 66 outwards until, as the sleeves are further raised, they can fall back by gravity to engage beneath the pins and thus hold the sleeves and ridge in position when the cables 36 are slacked back. To release the sleeves, they are raised slightly, a cable 68 passing over a pin or pulley 65 in the upper angle of one plate 57, through the pole at 69 and attached to the upper angle of the opposite plate 56, is pulled to disengage the hooks 66 on each upright, whereupon the sleeves and ridge may be lowered. To facilitate the erection of the poles, they are pivoted to base plates 73 which are picketed to the ground, by lugs 101, the base plates also carrying brackets 102 for positioning the lower end of a derrick 103, Fig. 10, the poles then being raised by a cable and pulley system 104. Guys 76 secured to hooked rings 75 at the tops of the poles hold them vertical.. Before raising the ridge, the tent covering in three parts is secured in position, the upper parts of the end parts being laced to hooks 46 secured to the sleeves 25, the middle part being laid over the ridge and the three parts then laced together. The walls of the marquee are supported in the usual way by poles and guys, and ventilators, windows and doors may be provided. Beams : Girders.-The ridge member 44 is formed from a lattice girder in three parts, two end sections 77 and a central section 78, each terminating in plates 86 by which they are bolted together. Each section is of triangular crosssection being built of three tubes 79, 80, 81, Figs. 5, 8, 9 braced by struts 82 and strengthened by webs 84, 85 welded to the tubes and to the plates 86, Fig. 4a. The outer ends of the end members are closed by plates 86<1> and strengthened by webs 83, and carry the slotted flanges 90, 91 for hooking to the sleeves 25. A bracing wire 87 also connects the end sections.