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 prestressed concrete roof for a cylindrical tank is provided with a plurality of prestressed concrete (PC) steel members which are disposed side by side in a circumferential direction at an outer circumferential side of a discoid roof and each of which extends in a radial direction, in which the plurality of PC steel members are made up of both arm parts of folded PC steel members that are folded so as to be open to the outer circumferential side of the roof in a plan view.

The present invention provides a method for prefabricating, transporting, and rapidly assembling a portable, rigid, dome-shaped structure, with the structural integrity to enable the suspension of extensive hardware and supplies. Said structure would be shaped for acoustic purposes, extremely durable, and allow for extensive climate control. Said structure would be able to be fabricated in a wide range of sizes and shipped to remote locations.

A double-shelled load-bearing structure module of any geometric shape, is formed from top and bottom secondary shell elements. A double-shelled load-bearing structure in the form of a primary shell structure is joined with the module, made of individual assembled load-bearing structure modules of this kind having statically necessary filling rods. The secondary shell elements have, in each corner, a connection pocket, which is open at the top or bottom or is open at the top and bottom, of appropriate size for connecting a plurality of load-bearing structure modules. The connection pocket, at least on the outside, on the outer vertical surfaces of the secondary shell elements, is delimited by preferably metal profiles or metal sheet. Connection tabs can also be disposed in each corner instead of connection pockets. The connection tabs are formed from angular surfaces, preferably metal sheet, protruding towards the intermediate space between the secondary shell elements.

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.

A double-shelled load-bearing structure module of any geometric shape, is formed from top and bottom secondary shell elements. A double-shelled load-bearing structure in the form of a primary shell structure is joined with the module, made of individual assembled load-bearing structure modules of this kind having statically necessary filling rods. The secondary shell elements have, in each corner, a connection pocket, which is open at the top or bottom or is open at the top and bottom, of appropriate size for connecting a plurality of load-bearing structure modules. The connection pocket, at least on the outside, on the outer vertical surfaces of the secondary shell elements, is delimited by preferably metal profiles or metal sheet. Connection tabs can also be disposed in each corner instead of connection pockets. The connection tabs are formed from angular surfaces, preferably metal sheet, protruding towards the intermediate space between the secondary shell elements.

A method of creating and attaching membrane panels of thin film, fabric or laminate to a tubular framework, that keeps the membrane tight over a wide range of air temperature and effectively seals the edges and hubs to provide a weather tight enclosure. A second aspect of this invention is a complete system for building enclosed geodesic domes and space frames using this method and addresses anchoring, external shading, venting, creating entryways and interior partitioning of said geodesic domes.

[Summary] A shell element that can be formed simply and in a short time, a shell structure using the shell element, and a structure forming set that can form the shell element simply and in a short time are provided. Resin material is foamed on the inside of thin film, a foamed material portion with bubbles being mixed is in the state of being sandwiched by the thin film and a solid layer, and tensional stress is applied to the thin film and the solid layer and compressive stress is applied to the foamed material portion, thus the shell element is difficult to be cracked or split, and the shell structure is formed by the shell element. And, the shell structure forming set forms the shell structure easily.

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.

A shell element that can be formed simply and in a short time, a shell structure using the shell element, and a structure forming set that can form the shell element simply and in a short time are provided.

Resin material is foamed on the inside of thin film, a foamed material portion with bubbles being mixed is in the state of being sandwiched by the thin film and a solid layer, and tensional stress is applied to the thin film and the solid layer and compressive stress is applied to the foamed material portion, thus the shell element is difficult to be cracked or split, and the shell structure is formed by the shell element. And, the shell structure forming set forms the shell structure easily.