Flexible compression member for a flexible pneumatic structural element and means for erecting pneumatic element structures

Abstract

A flexible compression member ( 2 ) is essentially flat when a pneumatic structural element is in a slack state. When the pneumatic structural element is subjected to the action of pressure via a valve ( 3 ), the compression member ( 2 ) takes on a functionally curved shape similar to a segment of a cylinder. In the functional shape, the flexible compression member ( 2 ) has a greater geometrical moment of inertia and is supported by the skin ( 1 ) that is under pressure whereby considerably increasing the buckling load of the compression member ( 2 ). The ends of the compression member ( 2 ) lead into two node elements that can be joined together via joining elements. This enables the creation of pneumatic element structures and the erection thereof by using compressed air.

1 . A flexible pneumatic structural element comprising 
 an elongated air-tight hollow body that can be subjected to pressure;    wherein at least one pair of tight tension elements helicoidally looped around the hollow body in respectively opposite directions on each compression member;    two node elements provided respectively per compression member;    the compression member being elastically bendable, having a plate-like shape, rigidly connected to a shell;    the compression member being flat and adapted to be rolled up in a deflated state of the pneumatic structural element; and,    the compression member being bent and essentially assuming a shape of a cylinder segment in an inflated, pressurized state of the pneumatic structural element such that the pressurized shell stabilizes the compression member in this shape.    
   
   
       2 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 1 , wherein a connection between the compression member and the shell is realized such that the stress σ u  of the shell is transmitted onto the compression member.  
   
   
       3 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 2 , wherein the compression member is bonded to the shell or connected to the shell by means of welding over its entire surface.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 3 , wherein the compression member increasingly unrolls and assumes its stretched, functional shape as the pressure being built up in the shell increases.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 4 , wherein the compression member is designed such that its buckling load is increased.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 5 , wherein the compression member is composed of two plates that form the hollow body, wherein when the hollow body is subjected to a pressure p 1 >p 2 , the compression member assumes a tubular shape.  
   
   
       7 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 5 , wherein the compression member is provided with an elastic joint that centrally extends over an entire length of the compression member and to which a web is hinged, wherein the web is connected to the shell in the region of a surface line lying opposite of the elastic joint by means of a plurality of filaments.  
   
   
       8 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 at least one tubular shell is arranged on the plate of the compression member; and    an elastically bendable plate arranged on an inner side of the tubular shell and bends up when the shell is pressurized.    
   
   
       9 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 1 , wherein multiple compression members are arranged on the shell.  
   
   
       10 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one compression member is arranged within the shell.  
   
   
       11 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one compression member is arranged on an outside of the shell.  
   
   
       12 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one compression member is arranged between different layers of the shell.  
   
   
       13 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the two node elements can be attached to connecting elements.  
   
   
       14 . The flexible pneumatic structural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the two node elements are provided with at least one eye, through which a bolt of a non-rotatable mounting arrangement can be respectively inserted.  
   
   
       15 . The pneumatic element structure element according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 flexible pneumatic structural elements, the flexible pneumatic structural elements are connected by means of connecting elements; and    wherein the pneumatic element structure is automatically erected and assumes a predetermined shape when the flexible pneumatic structural elements are subjected to pressure.    
   
   
       16 . The pneumatic element structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the connecting elements for the flexible pneumatic structural elements comprises: 
 means for mounting at least two node elements; and    mounting means that are realized such that the flexible pneumatic structural elements are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to one another in their functional shape.    
   
   
       17 . The pneumatic element structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting elements are provided with pairs of coaxial eyes between which one respective node element with an eye can be non-rotationally mounted by inserting a bolt.  
   
   
       18 . The pneumatic element structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting elements are provided with at least two upper and two lower pairs of coaxial eyes, wherein the position of the upper pairs relative to the lower pairs defines an angle between the flexible pneumatic structural elements in their functional shape.