FR2732997A1 - Temporary shelter for gardens, exposition tents, sports stadia etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelter has a covering of fabric panels (2) which can be folded to fit into a compact container (3), and a framework of tubes (1) like fire hoses, inflated with air by a compressor (4). The tubes can be inflated in sequence to avoid hooking on obstacles (5) while being deployed, using a pneumatic distributor/sequencer. The tubes can be equipped with trolleys to facilitate their movement during deployment, and a system of valves can be incorporated to keep the shelter up in the event of one tube bursting. In addition, the covering material can be in a double layer to give the shelter certain acoustic and thermal insulation properties. The tubes can be made, e.g. from polyester fabric coated on both sides with an elastomer, and the fabric covering panels can be of coated or transparent materials, or nylon.

Description

The present application relates to a process for producing temporary shelters having the advantage of very short assembly and disassembly time @. automatically.

 In general, because of their type of structure and the materials used: aluminum, steel. wood, Plexiglas. fiberglass etc. temporary shelters existing to date have various major drawbacks significant assembly and disassembly time. labor often required. impossibility of completely folding the shelter, significant weight and volume, heavy masonry, therefore of a high cost, especially if one seeks to automate the opening and closing system.

The invention consists in using multiple plastic materials making it possible to produce a temporary shelter whose structure consisting of hoses of the fire hose type inflated with air ensures the tensioning of a canvas envelope The shelter, housed in a container incorporating a compressor can be deployed and retracted automatically, sequentially and quickly. the problem of the risk of punctures is solved by the choice of resistant materials, by the device making it possible to isolate the pipes between them and by the ease of replacement of the defective element, if necessary.

The fields of application of this type of temporary shelter are swimming pool and tennis covers and the creation of greenhouses. sheds, garden shelters, construction shelters (BTP) and floating marine shelters forming lagoons. exhibition halls, reception tents, camping tents, outdoor shelters, polish sports and children's play areas, etc.

Materials constituting the shelter - Inflated structures made from pipes associating a sleeve in coated polyester fabric and an inner tube in elastomer (fire hose type).

- The materials used meet the following criteria: rigidity once inflated, mechanical resistance to internal pressures and external constraints such as the tension of the canvas.

good wind and weather resistance, excellent mechanical resistance to minimize the risk of punctures.

- Light and weatherproof fabrics (water, frost, heat. UVs), able to withstand repetitive folding and high tensions. (fabrics, tarpaulins, coated fabrics and reinforced fabrics, transparent materials such as @ristal, Nylon, etc.

The materials used are standard, proven and inexpensive.

Automatic deployment and retraction - A compressor allows the deployment of the shelter and its retraction automatically.

Two processes can be envisaged: - First process: The serpentine structure consists of inflatable pipes communicating with each other.

 Second process: The structure consists of independent inflatable tubes.

-the eseamotage is caused by deflation by aspiration and is assisted by a system using one or two electric motors housed in the container and winding two cables, the cable end attractor being fixed to the front of the strticttire.

Guidance during deployment and fixing of the shelter to the ground
Structure on caster moving on rails. these can be fixed or retractable into the ground in order to clear the surface when the shelter is retracted, in particular for sports areas. A quick attachment of the lever handle type or other system allows the attachment to studs fixed to the ground.

Puncture protection - choice of materials with the highest level of resistance eg. fire hose.

- possible mechanical protection of fragile parts: sleeves oti shells in flexible i'VC.

- structure made up of independent pipes. easily replaceable individually.

Thermal and sound insulation
If necessary, the shelter envelope can be made up of a double wall of fabrics, the spacing of which is determined by the diameter of the pipes constituting the structure.

A more detailed description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent:
- Figure 1: a characteristic perspective view of a deployed tunnel-shaped shelter.

- Figure 2: a characteristic perspective view of a geode-shaped shelter.

 - Figure 3: a quick schematic vne of f'tce with an equipped pipe.

- Figure 4: a schematic top view showing the principle of a serpentine structure according to the first method - Figure 5: a schematic perspective view showing the inflation flow of a serpentine structure.

- Figure 6: a schematic view showing the detailed inflation system of the coil structure - Figure 7: a schematic view from above showing the principle of a structure made up of independent pipes according to the secotid process.

- Figures 8 and 9: two perspective views showing an original application for area
games.

- Figure 10: a perspective view showing an original application relating to a floating shelter.

Automatic deployment of a tunnel-type shelter (fig. 1) made up of a structure made up of inflatable pipes (I t and cl a stretched canvas i2). housed in a container (3) comprising a compressor (4) can be a problem when a prominent object (5) obstructs deployment, eg net of a tennis court. ladder or springboard for plant pools in greenhouses etc. In fact, if the structure is inflated in one block, the front wall (6) will catch any possible obstacle during the longitudinal deployment of the shelter.

The present invention using a principle of sequential deployment, it is easy to circumvent this problem, the sequencing allowing the establishment of the front wall in the last inflation phase and in the first deflation phase. Quotes elastic bands or any other system with similar effect allow the front wall to be kept in the air at one or two meters from the ground when the air pressure is not sufficient to inflate and stiffen the pipes.

A pipe consists of a flexible pipe (7) connected at its two ends to a valve (8) and fixed to a carriage (9) on a roller, equipped with a quick coupling (10) allowing the pipes to be connected together or hoses and hoses. The number of pipes. their section and their spacing are determined by the dimension of the planned shelter.

Sequential inflation allows progressive deployment and translation of the shelter.

The air flow passing from the compressor (11) to the head pipe via a departure hose (12), the latter swells out of the container and takes the form of an arch imposed by the design of the canvas envelope. The casing comprises sheaths into which the pipes have been slid. The pressure established in the head pipe (13). the air flow travels via the side pipe (14) to the second pipe which in turn inflates and the process is repeated. The volume of the pipe increasing inside the trunk causes the structure to be pushed forward thanks to the lateral pipes. It should be noted that the zigzag shape that the structure can take during deployment linked to the fact that it does not 'There is one side pipe out of two per wall does not pose any problem insofar as the central pipe (15) ensures the tensioning during the final deployment phase. just before the establishment of air in the front wall which completely closes the shelter. Quick attachments such as lever handles or the like allow the shelter to be locked to the ground.

The inflation takes place at a pressure greater than the tension of the spring (16) whose role is to push the valve (17) and cause the obstruction on the upstream side of the first valve as soon as the compressor (11) stops. The shutdown of the compressor controls the closing of the valve (18) which maintains the pressure in the return hose (19).

In the event of a puncture in a pipe, a pressure loss will appear throughout the circuit up to the limit limit for blocking the valves.

For example, if a minimum holding pressure of 3 bars is desired, it suffices to provide a spring setting at a tension equivalent to the pressure of 3 bars, then to adopt a pressure of 4 to 5 bars. for inflation.

The replacement of the defective pipe is easy thanks to the quick couplings with O-ring with which it is equipped at both ends.

The second process mentioned makes it possible to design more complex sequences. This process uses the same principle of pipes with two carriages with valves and quick couplings, but in this case, a pneumatic distributor / sequencer (20) applies air to each pipe. independently via a separate hose.

Geode-type structures (fig. 2) are well suited to small shelters such as play areas (fig. 8 and 9) or to small swimming pools placed on the ground or even embedded. circular in shape, in this case the installation and removal can be carried out manually. This type of structure makes it possible to lower the manufacturing costs and, although not automatic, the installation can be done in a reasonable time with regard to the vagaries of the weather, for example. on a daily basis. Geode-type structures are also well suited for large shelters, as shown in (fig. 10). In this case of realization. it is also not necessary to provide a rapid deployment and retraction system because the duration of use is several days or even several months.

Claims (9)

1) Method for making temporary canvas shelters (2), which can be housed in a compact container (3), characterized in that the structure consists of fire hose type pipes (1 inflated with a compressor (4), 2) Device according to claim I characterized in that the serpentine structure (fig. 4,5,6) allows a sequential inflation without risk of hanging an obstacle (5) during and the longitudinal deployment of the shelter. 3) Device according to claim I characterized in that the use of a pneumatic distributor / sequencer (20) allows a sequential inflation without risk of hanging an obstacle during and the longitudinal deployment of the shelter. 4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deployment and the translation of the shelter by the pushing effect during deployment are caused by the inflation itself. 5) Device according to claim I characterized in that the tubes are fitted with carriages on casters permelling the translation of the shelter. 6) Device according to claim I characterized in that the independence of the pipes by a valve system (8) ensures the maintenance of the structure in the event of a puncture of a pipe. 7) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the connection of the pipes together by quick connectors (10) allows easy exchange of a defective pipe. 8) Device according to claim I characterized in that the use of a double wall of canvas allows for shelters having a sound and thermal insulation property. 9) Device according to claim I characterized in that the shape of the canvas fitted with sheaths, causes bending and shaping of the pipes during inflation.  l () j Method according to claim I canterized in that the use of standard pipes allows the realization of shelters of various shape and size (tunnel. geode etc.) for the realization of greenhouses, shelters of land works sea sailors, capitals. tennis and swimming pool cover. sports or leisure grounds, fairs and exhibitions.