Fortified radial arch structure

Abstract

Arch structure of steel frame construction comprising: a plurality of elongated metal or steel stringer members and arch members, each stringer member and arch member comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, each of the plurality of arch members undergirding a one of the plurality of stringer members located between two non-adjacently positioned stringer members at a mid-point of each of the plurality of arch members, each of the plurality of arch members being oriented in crossing relationship to another of the arch members, the arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any the arch member or any the stringer member, side surfaces of the plurality of stringer members via a plurality of brackets and fasteners. Or, the arch member ends may completely abut and be welded to side surfaces of the stringer members.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An arch structure, wherein a cross-section of a portion of the structure defines equidistant points along a radial curve, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated stringer members, each stringer member of said plurality of stringer members comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, and opposing first and second side surfaces lying in substantially parallel planes;   a plurality of elongated arch members comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, each of said plurality of arch members having a midpoint and first and second ends, each of said plurality of arch members undergirding a one of said plurality of stringer members located between two non-adjacently positioned stringer members at the mid-point of each of the plurality of arch members, each of said plurality of arch members being oriented in crossing relationship to another of said plurality of arch members; and   fastening means interconnecting each end of ones of said arch members to a side surface of ones of said stringer members.   
     
     
         2 . The arch structure of  claim 1 , said plurality of stringer members and said plurality of arch members are made of one of steel and metal, wherein the first and second ends of each of said plurality of arch members are angled with equal but opposing to one another angular magnitude, the ends of each of said plurality of arch members being shaped to be adapted to converge crossways on and completely abut a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned of said plurality of stringer members, and wherein said fastening means comprises welding interconnections between the ends of ones of said plurality of said arch members to a side surface of ones of said stringer members. 
     
     
         3 . The arch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of interconnection brackets, each bracket comprised of one of an L-bracket or a T-bracket, for interconnecting each of said stringer members to at least one of said plurality of arch members, the ends of each of said plurality of arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned of said plurality of stringer members via ones of said plurality of brackets; and
 a plurality of fasteners for interconnecting said plurality of arch members with said plurality of stringer members via said plurality of brackets.   
     
     
         4 . The arch structure of  claim 3 , wherein the radial curve defines an incomplete circle, the arch structure further comprising a plurality of end stringer members comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, and wherein each of said plurality of stringer members other than said plurality of end stringer members is an intermediate stringer member, each said end stringer member positioned crossways of said arch members at outermost extents of the arc of the incomplete circle, further comprising a plurality of end arch members, and wherein each of said plurality of arch members other than said plurality of end arch members is an intermediate arch member, each of said plurality of end arch members having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of said plurality of end arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of one of said plurality of intermediate stringer members via one of said plurality of brackets, the second end of each of said plurality of end arch members comprising one of being oriented for indirect complete abutting an opposing side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members and bypassing one of said plurality of end stringer members, each of said plurality of end arch members and said intermediate arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of end arch members and intermediate arch members. 
     
     
         5 . The arch structure of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of end stringer members comprises two end stringer members of wider width for capping the arch structure, each said end stringer member being positioned at ultimate extent locations on the defined radial curve, further comprising a plurality of special arch members, each said special arch member having a first end and a second end, wherein each of the second ends of each of said plurality of end arch members are oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members, and wherein the first end of each of said plurality of special arch members is oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, with one of said plurality of intermediate stringer members, the second end of each of said plurality of special arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting a side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members, each of said plurality of end arch members and said plurality of special arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of end arch members and said plurality of special arch members. 
     
     
         6 . The arch structure of  claim 3 , wherein the radial curve defines a complete circle, wherein each of said plurality of stringer members is an intermediate stringer member, and wherein each of said plurality of arch members is an intermediate arch member, each of said plurality of intermediate arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of intermediate arch members. 
     
     
         7 . The arch structure of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of each of said plurality of end arch members bypassing one of said plurality of end stringer members further comprises an integral elongated wall stud member, the arch structure further comprising at least one foundation member, and the second end of each said at least one wall stud member being connected to said at least one foundation member. 
     
     
         8 . An arch structure made of one of metal and steel, wherein a portion of the arch structure defines equidistant points along a radial curve, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated stringer members, each stringer member of said plurality of stringer members comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, and opposing first and second side surfaces lying in substantially parallel planes;   a plurality of elongated arch members, each of said plurality of arch members having a midpoint and first and second ends, each of said plurality of arch members undergirding a one of said plurality of stringer members located between two non-adjacently positioned stringer members at the mid-point of each of the plurality of arch members, each of said plurality of arch members being oriented in crossing relationship to another of said plurality of arch members;   wherein the ends of each of said plurality of arch members are oriented for one of direct and indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned of said plurality of stringer members, and   fastening means interconnecting each end of ones of said arch members to a side surface of ones of said stringer members.   
     
     
         9 . The arch structure of  claim 8 , wherein said fastening means interconnecting comprises interconnections between said stringer members and said arch members made by welding between directly complete abutting ends of arch members and a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned of said plurality of stinger members. 
     
     
         10 . The arch structure of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of interconnection brackets, each bracket comprised of one of an L-bracket or a T-bracket, for interconnecting each of said stringer members to at least one of said plurality of arch members, the ends of each of said plurality of arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned of said plurality of stringer members via ones of said plurality of brackets; and a plurality of fasteners for interconnecting said plurality of arch members with said plurality of stringer members via said plurality of brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The arch structure of  claim 10 , wherein the radial curve defines an incomplete circle, the arch structure further comprising a plurality of end stringer members comprising one of a tubular, I-beam, I-beam angled flange, C-beam, T-beam, and L-beam, cross-section shape, and wherein each of said plurality of stringer members other than said plurality of end stringer members is an intermediate stringer member, each said end stringer member positioned crossways of said arch members at outermost extents of the arc of the incomplete circle, further comprising a plurality of end arch members, and wherein each of said plurality of arch members other than said plurality of end arch members is an intermediate arch member, each of said plurality of end arch members having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of said plurality of end arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of one of said plurality of intermediate stringer members via one of said plurality of brackets, the second end of each of said plurality of end arch members comprising one of being oriented for indirect complete abutting an opposing side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members and bypassing one of said plurality of end stringer members, each of said plurality of end arch members and said intermediate arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of end arch members and intermediate arch members. 
     
     
         12 . The arch structure of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of end stringer members comprises two end stringer members of wider width for capping the arch structure, each said end stringer member being positioned at ultimate extent locations on the defined radial curve, further comprising a plurality of special arch members, each said special arch member having a first end and a second end, wherein each of the second ends of each of said plurality of end arch members are oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, a side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members, and wherein the first end of each of said plurality of special arch members is oriented for indirect complete abutting, and without any notch in any said arch member or any said stringer member, with one of said plurality of intermediate stringer members, the second end of each of said plurality of special arch members being oriented for indirect complete abutting a side surface of one of said plurality of end stringer members, each of said plurality of end arch members and said plurality of special arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of end arch members and said plurality of special arch members. 
     
     
         13 . The arch structure of  claim 10 , wherein the radial curve defines a complete circle, wherein each of said plurality of stringer members is an intermediate stringer member, and wherein each of said plurality of arch members is an intermediate arch member, each of said plurality of intermediate arch members further being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another of said plurality of intermediate arch members. 
     
     
         14 . The arch structure of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of each of said plurality of end arch members bypassing one of said plurality of end stringer members further comprises an integral elongated wall stud member, the arch structure further comprising at least one foundation member, and the second end of each said at least one wall stud member being connected to said at least one foundation member. 
     
     
         15 . The arch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tensioning member of the post tensioning type applied after the structure is fastened together with said fastening means to compress said plurality of arch members onto stringer members to which each of the plurality of arch members is interconnected, each said at least one tensioning member having first and second ends, each end of each said at least one tensioning member being fastened to one of one of said intermediate stringer members and an arch member abutting the one of said intermediate stringer members, each said at least one tensioning member extending along the equidistant points along the radial curve defined by the arch structure. 
     
     
         16 . The arch structure of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one tensioning member, each said at least one tensioning member having first and second ends, each end of each said at least one tensioning member being fastened to one of one of said end stringer members and an arch member abutting the one of said end stringer members, each said at least one tensioning member extending along each of the defined points of the radial curve defined by the arch structure, and wherein the arch structure forms a frame structure for an elongated hull of a flotation device. 
     
     
         17 . The arch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising another fastener interconnecting each of said plurality of arch members to another of said plurality of arch members at a crossing location of the each of said plurality of arch members to the another of said plurality of arch members. 
     
     
         18 . The arch structure of  claim 8 , further comprising another fastener interconnecting each of said plurality of arch members to another of said plurality of arch members at a crossing location of the each of said plurality of arch members to the another of said plurality of arch members.