GB2099880A - A lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures - Google Patents

Abstract

This comprises two rods 2, 2'. Each is hinged at one end 3 to one arch 3' omicron f two adjacent arches. The other ends of rods 2, 2' are hinged 11, 12 to rods 13, 14, each of which is inserted into a tubular member 15, 16. The other ends of tubular members 15, 16 are hinged together at 17 and a roller 19 is provided in this hinge region which can press a portion of the covering canvas T towards the outside of the roofed structure so as to define a bellows portion as the roof structure is collapsed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A lateral spacing device for a ra-;ovable, extendible roofed structures This invention relates to a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting and similar installations.

Roofed structures having a series of closely spaced arches which can be moved on rails, with a flexible covering canvas which is anchored thereto and is movable and capable of being folded back in the manner of a bellows when the arches are opened singly or in groups, are already known, these roofed structures being constructed in order to create covered spaces suitable for sporting installations and/or the like, as well as for large capacity storage.

An example of this type of roofed structure is that described and claimed in our copending U.K.

Patent Application No. 7909996 which includes a plurality of large span arches formed of modular elements sliding on horizontal rails and connected together by pairs of diagonal elements so that hinged parallelograms with pantograph movement are formed, capable of conferring stability on the arches themselves and permitting them to move together and apart, acting, preferably by means of reduction motors, on the arches of one end in the case where all the arches are grouped together at one end or on the separate arches of the central region in the case where these arches are grouped into two equal groups at opposing ends.

In particular this known roofed structure also includes rigid elements fixed to each hinged parallelogram which act horizontally on the canvas in order to fold the latter in bellows fashion on the outer side of the structure during the approaching of the arches in the opening operation with rigid horizontal guides attached by flexible elements so that the folding takes place towards the exterior.

In a preferred embodiment, these members consist of rigid vertical rods associated with the rotation pivot of the parallelograms and acting against rigid horizontal bars which are fixed to the canvas and move flexible in relation to the vertical plane of the fold, the said bars being fixed within channels made in the canvas itself.

This known roofing structure, described in our abovementioned patent application and included herein for the purposes of reference, has proved satisfactory from the point of view of both structural strength and reliability in operation.

It has however been found that, although satisfactory, the means whereby the bellows-type refolding of the covering canvas towards the exterior is controlled when the covering canvas is being closed up are rather structurally complex and require quite long installation times, in particular because of the need to make a plurality of channels in the covering canvas for fixing of the rigid horizontal bars which are integral with the covering canvas itself and are flexible in relation to the vertical plane of the fold.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, which is structurally externely simple and can be associated with the covering canvas of the roofed structure without the need to make a plurality of channels in order to house the operating rods in the covering canvas itself.

Within the scope of this object, is the embodiment to provide a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, which is extremely reliable in operation so as to guarantee an effective thrust towards the exterior against the side portion of the covering canvas and optimum forming of the bellows folding whatever the position of the arches of the roofed structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, which can easily be adjusted in length so that the device can be adjusted to arches which are spaced at various distances within a broad range both in the fully open position and in the fully closed position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, which can easily be constructed from components and/or materials which are readily available on the market.

According to the present invention there is provided a lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, of the type which can be moved on rails and including a plurality of self-supporting arches made up of modular elements, supporting a flexible covering canvas, and connected to one another by means of diagonal elements so as to form hinged parallelograms with pantograph movement, in which said device includes a first and a second distal rod-shaped members having one end respectively which is hinged to one arch respectively of two adjacent arches within the said plurality, a third and a fourth rod-shaped members having one end respectively hinged to the other end of the said first and second rod-shaped distal members and two substantially tubular intermediate members which are hinged at one end and telescopically receive the end portions which are not hinged of the said third and fourth rod-shaped members, a rotatable roller member being associated with the said hinged ends of the said two substantially tubular intermediate members which engages the covering canvas and is capable of pressing the said covering canvas substantially horizontally towards the exterior as a result of the folding of the device when it closes, thus causing the portion of the said covering which is acted upon to take up the configuration of a portion of a bellows.

The present invention will be further illustrated by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating two lateral spacing devices in accordance with the invention associated with two arches respectively of a roofed structure, and it must be borne in mind that an identical lateral spacing unit will be provided for each pair of adjacent arches; Fig. 2 is a side view of a spacing device in accordance with this invention in the completely extended or open position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the spacing device according to this invention in the fully contracted or closed position; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spacing device according to this invention in the fully extended position with the covering canvas associated therewith; and Fig. 5 is a view of the spacing device in its folded condition, this view being useful to an understanding of the functioning of the spacing device itself.

A currently preferred embodiment of the lateral spacing device according to this invention will now be described with specific reference to the drawings, it being borne in mind that insofar as the specific details of the roofed structure and its operation are concerned reference may be made to our copending U.K. Patent Application No. 7909996.

With reference to Figs. 2 to 5, the lateral spacing device according to the invention which is indicated in general by the reference numeral 1, includes a first and a second rod-shaped distal members 2 and 2' respectively, made for example of metal, which are hinged at one end at 3 to an arch member 3', being provided with rod-shaped rigidifying attachment members 4 which are integral with hinge coupling 5, and a stabilising cross-member 6 which rigidly joins coupling bars 7 and 8 respectively which make the coupling with the arch member 3', for example by means of bolts 9 and 10.

At their other ends the first and second rod shaped members 2 and 2' are hinged, at 11 and 12 respectively, in accordance with one possible form of the embodiment, with the corresponding ends of a third and fourth rod-shaped members 13 and 14 (Figs. 4 and 5), the other end portions of which are inserted telescopically into the respective end portions of two substantially tubular intermediate members, 1 5 and 16 respectively, the other ends of which are hinged at 17.

Advantageously, locking means, comprising for example screws 18, which at the same time permit the length of the entire device to be adjusted in order to fit arches with different spacings, are provided in order to secure rods 13 and 14 in tubular members 1 5 and 1 6.

At the end of hinge 17 of the first two substantially tubular intermediate members 1 5 and 1 6 a roller 1 9, made for example of suitable plastics material, is provided and engages the covering canvas T to push cover T itself horizontally outwards as the device closes in order to form a portion of a bellows, as will become clear below.

As is known, the coupling between roller 19 and the hinged end of tubular members 15 and 16 is made by means of a hinge bracket 20 which rotatably supports the said roller 1 9.

In accordance with the invention, contact elements 21 and 22 respectively which are integral with the said rod-shaped members 2 and 2' and are capable of abutting against the arch members 3', as a result of closure of the device, and as is better shown in Fig. 5, in order to define a limiting position for the closure of the device itself are provided close to the end of each of the first and second rod-shaped members which is hinged to the arch.

Likewise further contact elements 23 and 24, which are integrally associated with rods 2 and 2' in the vicinity of the region in which they are hinged to the third and fourth rod-shaped members 13 and 14 respectively, are provided in order to define a position limiting the opening of the said device 1. Thus when the device is fully open or extended, see Fig. 4, rods 2, 2', 13 and 14 and the tubular members 1 5 and 16 can never become aligned horizontally because of the presence of the said contact elements acting in the region of hinges 11 and 12, which ensures that the device will always take up the configuration in Fig. 5 when the arches are closed up. In other words covering Twill always be pressed outwards to form a corresponding bellows portion.This impossibility of alignment can also be further ensured by "cutting" the hinged ends of tubular members 1 5 and 16 to a suitable angle.

The operation of the spacing device according to the invention will already be clear from the foregoing description. In particular, when the device is extended (Fig. 4) the various rod-shaped and tubular members will take up the almost horizontal but not aligned configuration in Fig. 4 as a result of the engagement of stops 23 and 24 in the corresponding hinge regions 11 and 12. On the other hand, when device 1 changes to the contracted or folded configuration in Fig. 5, when the arches have been closed up covering T is pressed horizontally outwards by roller 19 in such a way as to take up the configuration of a portion of a bellows.

It will be noted from the foregoing how the invention fully achieves the specified objectives; in particular a spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures has been produced which is structurally very simple and does not require the prior formation of channels in the covering for its installation with considerable consequent reductions in assembly times, and differes from the abovementioned known device in our copending U.K. Patent Application No. 7909996.

In addition to this, the device according to the invention is extremely reliable in operation as a result of the presence of the stop units mentioned which ensure that the covering is always pressed horizontally outwards however the arches of the roofed structure are positioned with respect to each other, so as to form a portion of a bellows.

Finally the fact that the spacing device can be adjusted for length so that it can be suited to any extendible roofed structure is greatly advantageous.

Although the invention has been described with specific reference to one currently preferred form of its embodiment it must be borne in mind that it may be subjected to modifications and variants, all of which lie within the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims (9)

1. A lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, of the type which can be moved on rails and including a plurality of self-supporting arches made up of modular elements, supporting a flexible covering canvas, and connected to one another by means of diagonal elements so as to form hinged parallelograms with pantograph movement, in which said device includes a first and a second distal rod-shaped members having one end respectively which is hinged to one arch respectively of two adjacent arches within the said plurality, a third and a fourth rod-shaped members having one end respectively hinged to the other end of the said first and second rod-shaped distal members and two substantially tubular intermediate members which are hinged at one end and telescopically receive the end portions which are not hinged of the said third and fourth rod-shaped members, a rotatable roller member being associated with the said hinged ends of the said two substantially tubular intermediate members which engages the covering canvas and is capable of pressing the said covering canvas substantially horizontally towards the exterior as a result of the folding of the device when it closes, thus causing the portion of the said covering which is acted upon to take up the configuration of a portion of a bellows.

2. A lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures, in particular those of large span for sporting installations and/or the like, as claimed in claim 1, in which contact and/or stop means which can abut against a portion of the said arches as a result of folding of the said device as it closes in such a way as to define a predetermined limiting position for the said device are rigidly associated with the said first and second distal rod-shaped members at the ends which are hinged to the said respective arches.

3. A lateral spacing device as claimed in claim 2, in which further contact and/or stop means acting in the respective hinge regions so as to prevent the horizontal alignment of the said first, second, third and fourth rod-shaped members and the said substantially tubular intermediate members when the said spacing device is in its fully extended position are rigidly associated with the first and second distal rod-shaped members at the ends of the latter which are hinged to the third and fourth rod-shaped members.

4. A lateral spacing device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, in which securing means are associated with the said substantially tubular intermediate members which are capable of releasably securing the said end portions of the said third and fourth rod-shaped members inserted telescopically into the corresponding said substantially tubular members so as to permit the length of the said lateral spacing device to be adjusted.

5. A lateral spacing device as claimed in claim 4, in which the said releasable and/or removable securing means comprise securing screws.

6. A lateral spacing device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said roller member which engages the said covering is manufactured from a plastics material.

7. A lateral spacing device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each of the said first and second rod-shaped members includes rigidifying means of attachment at the ends hinged to the said arches which are capable of stabilising the coupling between the said arches and each of the said first and second rod-shaped members.

8. A movable, extendible roofed structure including a lateral spacing device as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. A lateral spacing device for movable, extendible roofed structures substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.