Domed steel roof frame

Abstract

A domed steel roof frame ( 12 ). The frame ( 12 ) has at least three corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex ( 20 ). The frame ( 12 ) comprises at least three steel interior members ( 18 ), at least three interior cable retainers and at least three interior cables. The at least three steel interior members ( 18 ) each extend from one of each of the corners to the apex ( 20 ). The at least three interior cable retainers are each attached to, or form part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members ( 18 ). The at least three interior cables are each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers. The frame ( 12 ) also comprises means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers and means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.

1 . A domed steel roof frame, the fame having at least three corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:
 at least three steel interior members, each extending from one of each of the corners to the apex;   at least three interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   at least three interior cables, each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers;   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       2 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes:
 at least three steel peripheral members, each extending between adjacent pairs of the at least three corners; and   at least three peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   at least three peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective peripheral cable retainers;   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       3 . A domed steel roof frame, the frame having at least four corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:
 at least two steel interior members, each extending between each of the pairs of opposite corners and intersecting at the apex;   at least two interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   at least two interior cables, each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers;   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       4 . The frame as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the frame further includes:
 at least four steel peripheral members, each extending between adjacent pairs of the at least four corners; and   at least four peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   at least four peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective peripheral cable retainers;   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       5 . A domed steel roof frame, the frame having four corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:
 two steel interior members, each extending between each of the pairs of opposite corners and intersecting at the apex;   two interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   two interior cables, each inserted through each of the interior cable retainers;   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       6 . The frame as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the frame further includes:
 four steel peripheral members extending between adjacent pairs of the four corners; and   four peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   four peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective cable retainers;   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to maintain each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       7 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the interior members are each in the form of a steel truss. 
   
   
       8 . The frame as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the trusses each have a hollow lower chord which defines the cable retainer of the respective interior member. 
   
   
       9 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral members are each in the form of a hollow steel tube which define the cable retainer of the respective peripheral members. 
   
   
       10 . The frame as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral members are each attached to a plurality of diagonal steel trusses, which together form the outer surface of the roof frame. 
   
   
       11 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers are mechanical jacking devices. 
   
   
       12 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means to maintain each of the cables tensioned relative to their respective cable retainers are permanent 
   
   
       13 . The frame as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the means to maintain each of the cables permanently tensioned relative to their respective cable retainers include a grout or other adhesive between the tensioned cables relative to their respective cable retainers. 
   
   
       14 . The frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means to maintain each of the cables tensioned relative to their respective cable retainers are non-permanent 
   
   
       15 . The frame as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the means to maintain each of the cables non-permanently tensioned relative to their respective cable retainers include a clamp, anchor, multi-use barrel and wedge or other similar releasable device on the tensioned cables adjacent to the ends of their respective cable retainers. 
   
   
       16 . A method of building a domed steel roof frame,
 the frame having at least three corners and an upwardly outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:   at least three steel interior members, each extending from one of each of the corners to the apex;   at least three interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   at least three interior cables, each of the cables inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers,   the method comprising:   1. assembling the frame;   2. inserting one of the interior cables into the interior cable retainer of each of the respective interior members;   3. applying a tensile force to each of the interior cables, relative to their respective interior cable retainers; and   4. after step 3, maintaining each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the frame also includes:
 at least three peripheral steel members, each extending between adjacent pairs of the at least three corners; and   at least three peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   at least three peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers,   and the method also comprises:   5. inserting one of the peripheral cables into the cable retainer of each of the respective peripheral members;   6. applying a tensile force to each of the peripheral cables, relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   7. after step 6, maintaining each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       18 . A method of building a domed steel roof frame,
 the frame having at least four corners and an upwardly outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:   at least two interior steel members, each extending between each of the pairs of opposite corners and intersecting at the apex;   at least two interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   at least two interior cables, each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers, the method comprising:   1. assembling the frame;   2. inserting one of the interior cables into the interior cable retainer of each of the respective interior members;   3. applying a tensile force to each of the cables, relative to their respective cable retainers; and   4. after step 3, maintaining each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the frame also includes:
 at least four peripheral steel members, each extending between adjacent pairs of the at least four corners; and   at least four peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   at least four peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers,   and the method also comprises:   5. inserting one of the peripheral cables into the peripheral cable retainer of each of the respective peripheral members;   6. applying a tensile force to each of the peripheral cables, relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   7. after step 6, maintaining each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       20 . A method of building a domed steel roof frame;
 the frame having four corners and an upwardly outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex, the frame comprising:   two interior steel members extending between each of the pairs of opposite corners and intersecting at the apex;   at least two interior cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members;   at least two interior cables, each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers, the method comprising:   1. assembling the frame;   2. inserting one of the interior cables into the interior cable retainer of each of the respective interior members;   3. applying a tensile force to each of the interior cables, relative to their respective interior cable retainers; and   4. after step 3, maintaining each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.   
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the frame also includes:
 four peripheral steel members extending between adjacent pairs of the four corners; and at least four peripheral cable retainers, each attached to, or forming part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective peripheral members;   at least four peripheral cables, each inserted through each of the respective peripheral cable retainers; and   means to tension each of the peripheral cables relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers,   and the method also comprises:   5. inserting one of the peripheral cables into the peripheral cable retainer of each of the respective peripheral members;   6. applying a tensile force to each of the peripheral cables, relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers; and   7. after step 6, maintaining each of the peripheral cables tensioned relative to their respective peripheral cable retainers.   
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the fixing of the tensioned cables relative to their respective cable retainers is permanent. 
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the permanent fixing of the tensioned cables relative to their respective cable retainers is a grout or other adhesive between the tensioned cables and their respective cable retainers. 
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the fixing of the tensioned cables relative to their respective cable retainers is nonpermanent. 
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the non-permanent fixing of the tensioned cables relative to their respective cable retainers is a clamp, anchor, multi-use barrel and wedge or other releasable device, on the tensioned cables adjacent to the ends of their respective cable retainers. 
   
   
       26 . A domed steel roof structure comprising the domed roof frame according to  claim 1 , and a leg assembly at each of the corners of the domed roof frame.