Improved Means of Covering Large Spaces with Canvas or other Fabric.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Covering Large Spaces with Canvas or
other Fabric.
I, ARCHIBALD STEWART HARRISON of No. 105 Cannon Street in the County
of London, Major Ist London Volunteer Royal Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means of covering with canvas or other fabric, large
spaces suitable for exhibitions or great assemblies, the principal objects which I
have in view being to carry the covering without any columns or other supports
within the enclosure, and to provide for free ventilation, while the covering is
weatherproof. For this purpose, around the enclosure I erect posts or columns
which steady by diagonal ties extending outwards to the ground or by internal
struts or both. From the tops and from several lower points of those posts or
columns I extend ropes radiating towards the centre.
On those ropes I carry
canvas or other suitable fabric, which may be waterproofed if desired; and, for
purposes of ventilation, I prefer not to make this fabric covering in one piece
extending over the whole space but in several pieces, the first or lowest piece being
in the form of an annulus next the wall or other boundary of the space, the next
being also an annulus with its outer edge somewhat beyond and above the inner
edge of the lowest annulus and so on, the central position overlapping the inner edge
of the smallest annulus.
The portions of fabric, forming each annulus or the central portion of the
covering, instead of being all on one plane, are preferably made in segments
each carried by its edges on two of the radiating ropes, and alternately at
different levels the upper segment in each case overlapping the lower segment. By
thus making the covering in parts each overlapping and a little above the next, I
ensure free passage for air, while I prevent access of rain. The segments of fabric
instead of being rigidly attached to the carrying ropes, may be connected to them
by rings so that they can be reefed in the manner of sails. Also, in order more
firmly to hold the roof, the radiating ropes may be connected to each other by
lateral ties.
Dated this 26th day of November 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Covering Large Spaces with Canvas or
other Fabric.
I, ARCHIBALD STEWART HARRISON of No. 105 Cannon Street in the County
of London, Major 1st London Volunteer Royal Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to means of covering with canvas or other fabric, large
spaces suitable for exhibitions or great assemblies, the principal objects which I
have in view being to carry the covering without any columns or other supports within
the enclosure, and to provide for free ventilation, while the covering is weatherproof.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 represents a plan and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of the half of a tent or
marquee constructed according to my invention.
Around the enclosure to be covered I erect posts or columns A which I steady
[Price 6d l

page_text: 3
by diagonal ties B extending outwards to the ground or by internal struts or by
both. Several of such posts C around the enclosure are made somewhat stronger
and higher than the others and from the tops of these posts I extend ropes D
converging towards the centre, where they are fastened to-and-support or suspend a
centre piece E. From the tops and from several lower points of the posts A 1
extend ropes F converging towards and fastened to the centre piece E. On these ropes
I carry canvas or other suitable fabric H'H' H2 which may be waterproofed if
desired; and for purposes of ventilation I prefer not to make this fabric covering
in one piece extending over the whole space but in several pieces, the first or lowest
piece H being in the form of an annulus, next the post or other boundary of the
space, the next H¹ being also an annulus with its outer edge somewhat beyond and
above the inner edge of the lowest annulus and so on, the central portion H2
overlapping the inner edge of the smallest annulus.
The portions of fabric forming each annulus or the central portion of the
covering, instead of being all on one plane are preferably made in segments as
shewn in Fig. 3 each carried by its edges on two of the radiating ropes, and
alternately at different levels, the upper segment in each case overlapping the
lower segment. By thus making the covering in parts each overlapping and a
little above the next, I ensure free passage for air while I prevent access of rain.
The segments of fabric instead of being rigidly attached to the carrying ropes, may
be connected to them by rings so that they can be reefed in the manner of sails.
Also in order more firmly to hold the roof, the radiating ropes may be connected to
each other by lateral ties.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The use, for covering large spaces, of a series of posts arranged round the
space to be covered suitably stayed or strutted and having their upper ends and
intermediate points connected by radiating ropes to a centre piece, the said
radiating ropes being made to act as supports for canvas or other covering fitted
thereon in sections, substantially as herein described.
2. In a covering of canvas or other material such as is referred to in the
preceding claim, constructing the canvas covering as a number of separate annuluses,
arranged one slightly above the other so that the upper one overlaps the lower one
while leaving a space between the two, for free passage of air, substantially as
described.
3. A covering for large spaces combined and arranged as herein described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of ducunt 1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.