The present invention relates to fabric structures and methods for erecting same. The structure of the invention includes two telescoping apex legs, two generally vertical base legs having a base adapted to resist upward force on the base leg, four roof beams and a fabric roof membrane connected to each of the roof beams along a substantial portion of its periphery. A moment is applied tending to bow the roof beams upward and outward and the roof membrane is held under tension counter to said moment when the apex legs are telescopically raised relative to the base legs and the apex and base legs are positioned vertically. The invention provides a structure with a hyperbolic trapezoid roof made from modular components that are readily transported and assembled.

The present invention provides a modular system for constructing a structure assembly. The system comprises first and second sidewall components each comprising a set of spaced-apart longitudinally oriented grooves disposed in a first face thereof. The system comprises a plurality of rib components, each rib component having a pair of elongated protrusions extending from opposing sides of the rib component and, each protrusion being shaped to matingly engage with at least the first portion of the groove to connect the first and second sidewall components along a face-to-face direction. The system further comprises two elongate key joint members matingly engaging with two respective additional sidewall components to connect the sidewall components with the additional sidewall components along a transverse direction perpendicular to the face-to-face direction in a side to side relationship.

The present invention relates to fabric structures and methods for erecting same. The structure of the invention includes two telescoping apex legs, two generally vertical base legs having a base adapted to resist upward force on the base leg, four roof beams and a fabric roof membrane connected to each of the roof beams along a substantial portion of its periphery. A moment is applied tending to bow the roof beams upward and outward and the roof membrane is held under tension counter to said moment when the apex legs are telescopically raised relative to the base legs and the apex and base legs are positioned vertically. The invention provides a structure with a hyperbolic trapezoid roof made from modular components that are readily transported and assembled.

A method of constructing a dome-shaped roof on a cylindrical tank body includes processes of assembling roof beams into the tank body in a radial shape to form a structural skeleton unit of the dome-shaped roof, attaching wheels to front end portions of the roof beams and causing the wheels to abut an inner surface of the tank body in a state in which the wheels are able to roll in a vertical direction, lifting the structural skeleton unit by jack-up units installed at an upper end side of the tank body and causing the wheels to roll along the inner surface of the tank body to travel upward, and directly or indirectly attaching and fixing the structural skeleton unit to an upper end portion of the tank body after the structural skeleton unit is lifted to the upper end side of the tank body.

A retractable roof for a building having a supporting frame and a high structure extending vertically above the supporting frame. The roof has at least one structure section with first and second panels. The first panel is hingeably mounted on the supporting frame at a proximal hinge and the second panel is hingeably mounted on the first panel at a distal hinge. A distal end of the second panel is suspended to the high structure with a distal cable connected to a distal motorized winch. A tackle member connects to both first and second panels adjacent the proximal hinge and the distal end, respectively, and includes a tackle wire that forms a wire side of a triangular cross-sectional shape with the first and second panels. The tackle wire connects to a winch mechanism to control a length of the wire side.

A method for constructing a cylindrical tank which has a metallic inner tank and a concrete outer tank includes a step of building up a PC wall in an outer circumferential edge portion of a base plate, a step of assembling an outer tank roof on the base plate other than the outer circumferential edge portion of the base plate, a step of lifting the outer tank roof which is on the base plate using a jack-up unit while the PC wall is being built up and then holding the outer tank roof on the PC wall, and a step of assembling the inner tank independently of the outer tank roof in a space under the outer tank roof which is created due to the lifting.

A geodesic dome accessory having an accessory frame that utilizes a base frame and an upper frame. The base frame is attached to the frame of the geodesic dome on interior to the frame. The upper frame attaches to the base frame and secures the membrane of the geodesic dome between the upper frame and the base frame, providing a weather resistant or tight seal. The base frame forms an opening to access from the exterior of the dome to the interior. The upper frame can be in a variety of configurations, including a window, door, vent passage, or stove pipe passage. The structural framing of the dome can remain with the base frame in the shape of the opening between frame elements, such as a window, or the framing can be removed with the accessory base frame forming the structural support replacing the standard framing, such as a door.