Patent Grant
11434634
This disclosure is generally directed to a method and apparatus for supporting and moving a long-span structure. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for supporting and moving a long-span structure on one or more rails of a rail system. Specifically, this disclosure is directed to a bogie that is used to support the long-span structure and move the same on the rails of a rail system. A slide bearing assembly is utilized on the bogie to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction in the long-span structure.
A number of large stadiums, such as football stadiums, are provided with some type of roof or covering that protects the fans from the elements. In many instances, the roof is a permanent structure that extends over a portion of the stands, leaving the rest of the stands and the playing surface exposed to the elements.
In other instances, the roof or covering is comprised of a fixed roof structure and a movable roof structure. The fixed roof structure extends permanently over at least a portion of the stands. The movable roof structure may be selectively moved relative to the fixed roof structure between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable roof structure moves across an opening in the roof and covers part of the stands and/or the playing surface. In the second position, the movable roof structure does not close off the opening and cover part of the stands and/or the playing surface. If the weather is pleasant, the movable roof structure may be moved into the second position so that the playing surface is open to the environment. If, on the other hand, the weather is inclement, the movable roof structure may be moved into the first position and the playing surface will then be covered and protected from the weather outside the stadium.
These movable roof structures are typically long-span structures fabricated from a plurality of trusses and roof panels. They tend to be large and heavy and may need to be moved over quite large distances in a relatively short time period. The movable roof structures also tend to be somewhat vulnerable to weather. For example, wind may tend to lift and twist the roof panels and trusses. Additionally, snow and rain may accumulate on movable roof structures and increase the overall weight the structure has to bear. This additional weight can damage the roof panels and/or trusses, particularly if the movable roof structure is in the second position, i.e., the deployed position.
In the past, bogies have been used to support and move movable roof structures on rails of a rail system. Typically, the roof trusses are bolted or welded to the bogies. Multiple bogies are used to engage and support the roof panels and trusses and are arranged so that the load is generally evenly distributed over the multiple bogies. If required, some type of uplift prevention system may also be provided at the bogie/rail interface to help prevent the roof structure from being lifted off the stadium by wind. The uplift prevention system may be in the form an uplift clip system that is integral with the bogies.
If the weather is quite hot, the roof panels and/or the trusses, which are typically fabricated from metal, tend to undergo thermal expansion. As the panels or trusses expand, the movable roof structure may tend to grow in length. This growth can cause the panels and/or trusses to become slightly warped and thereby cause the load carried by the bogies to shift. For example, the load on individual bogies may increase or decrease to the point that welds or bolts securing the trusses to the bogies fail, or the supporting structure beneath the bogies comes under undue strain. The same problem may occur if the movable roof structure experiences thermal contraction (i.e., shrinkage) because of unduly cold conditions. In order to address this issue previously designed movable long-span systems have incorporated some type of release mechanism to try and prevent damage from the effects of thermal movements.
The apparatus, systems, and methods disclosed herein address some of the issues experienced with prior art movable roof structures. In particular, the apparatus, system, and method disclosed herein provide an improved way of arranging bogies on a rail system to support a movable long-span structure. In particular, the improved apparatus, system, and method provides a way to address issues due to thermal expansion of the long-span structure. The improvement comprises the use of one or more bearings, particularly commercially-available bearings, at the bogie/long-span structure interface. In particular, the present disclosure presents a more efficient way of supporting a movable long-span structure using standard bridge bearings or building style structural bearings.
In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a bogie for supporting a movable long-span structure, such as a movable roof structure for a stadium, which tends to better accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. The disclosure is further directed to a combination a movable long-span structure supported by two different types of bogies where one type of bogie accommodates thermally-induced changes in the roof, and to a method of forcing thermal growth of a movable long-span structure in a desired direction. It will be understood that while the disclosure describes a long-span structure used in the context of a movable roof for a stadium, the disclosure is equally applicable to any long-span structure that is movable along rails of a rail system.
A long-span structure engaged with a plurality of first and second transportation devices for moving the long span structure is disclosed herein. The transportation devices travel along parallel, longitudinally-oriented first and second tracks; moving the structure between a first position and a second position. A first region of the structure is fixed to each first transportation device. A second region of the structure is secured to each second transportation device via a bearing assembly. The first and second regions of the structure are laterally spaced apart. When the long-span structure thermally expands or contracts, a slider plate of each bearing assembly moves laterally relative to the rest of the bearing assembly. Growth of the structure in a predictable direction is forced by keeping the first region thereof fixed against lateral movement with the first transportation devices and allowing movement of the second region thereof via the bearing assemblies on the second transportation devices. This arrangement helps to ensure that the load carried by the first and second bogies is distributed properly.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a movable long-span structure comprising at least one long-span assembly; a plurality of first transport devices fixedly engaged with a first region of the at least one long-span assembly; a plurality of second transport devices engaged with a second region of the at least one long-span assembly, wherein the second region is spaced a distance from the first region; and a plurality of slide bearing assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of slide bearing assemblies secures one of the plurality of second transport devices to the at least one long-span assembly and enables movement of the second region of the at least one long-span assembly relative to the first region thereof.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a system for moving a long-span structure relative to a base member; said system comprising at least one first bogie engaged proximate a first end of a long-span structure and movable along a first track; and at least one second bogie engaged proximate a second end of the long-span structure and movable along a second track; wherein the first end and the second end of the long-span structure are spaced laterally apart from each other; and the first track and second track extend longitudinally; and wherein each of the at least one second bogie includes a slide bearing assembly interposed between a body of the at least one second bogie and the long-span structure.
In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a bogie for supporting a long-span structure, said bogie comprising a body having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, and a first side and a second side extending between the first end and the second end; wherein the body has a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end; a drive system provided on the body, said drive system being actuatable to move the body in one of a first longitudinal direction and a second longitudinal direction along a pathway; and a bearing assembly provided on the body; said bearing assembly being adapted to be engaged with a long-span structure.
It will be understood that the apparatus and method disclosed herein may be used in a variety of settings including on a movable roof structure for an athletic stadium that includes rails mounted on girders. The apparatus and method may also work on a roof mechanism that includes an external drive system as opposed to a traction wheel drive system. One suitable type of external drive system that the present apparatus may function with is a rope drive system but other external drive systems are also possible.
In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a system for moving a structure relative to a base member; said system comprising at least one first bogie adapted to be engaged proximate a first end of a structure and to be movable along a first track; and at least one second bogie adapted to be engaged proximate a second end of the structure and to be movable along a second track; wherein the first end and the second end of the structure are spaced laterally apart from each other; and the first track and second track extend longitudinally in the base member; and wherein the at least one second bogie includes a slide bearing adapted to be interposed between a body of the at least one second bogie and the structure.
In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a movable long-span for an athletic stadium comprising a long-span structure including a roof panel engaged with a truss assembly; a plurality of first bogies fixedly engaged with a first region of the truss assembly; a plurality of second bogies engaged with a second region of the truss assembly, wherein the second region is spaced laterally from the first region; and a plurality of slide bearing assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of slide bearing assemblies secures one of the plurality of second bogies to the truss assembly and enables lateral movement of the second region of the truss assembly relative to the first region thereof.
In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a method of moving a long-span structure comprising mounting a first rail and a second rail to a support structure such that the first rail and second rail are parallel and spaced apart; engaging a plurality of first transport devices on the first rail; fixedly securing each of the plurality of first transport devices to a first region of a long-span structure; engaging a plurality of second transport devices on the second rail; securing a bearing assembly provided on each of the plurality of second transport devices to a second region of the long-span structure; actuating the plurality of first transport devices and the plurality of second transport devices; and moving the long span-structure along the first rail and the second rail from a first position to a second position remote from the first position.
The method further comprises thermally expanding or thermally contracting the movable long-span-structure and sliding a slider plate of the bearing assembly of each of the plurality of second transport devices laterally with respect to the second rail. The sliding further includes sliding the slider plate in a lateral first direction when the long-span structure thermally expands and sliding the slider plate in a lateral second direction when the long-span structure contracts. The method further comprises substantially preventing lateral movement of the first region of the long-span structure with the plurality of first transport devices. The method further comprises permitting lateral movement of the second region of the long-span structure with the bearing assembly of each of the plurality of second transport devices. The method further comprises forcing growth of the long-span structure in a predetermined direction. The forcing of growth in a first predetermined direction occurs when the long-span structure is heated. The forcing of growth in a second predetermined direction occurs when the long-span structure is cooled.
A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to
Fixed roof structure 14 may include a one or more fixed regions. By way of example only, fixed roof structure 14, as shown in
As is best seen in
It will be understood that fixed roof structure 14 may be mounted to wall 12 and to a variety of other supports and columns that may extend upwardly and outwardly from wall 12 and/or upwardly and outwardly from the floor of stadium 10. The specific configuration of fixed roof structure 14 and the manner in which fixed roof structure 14 is supported are not discussed or disclosed herein as a wide variety of fixed roof structures are well known in the art. The configuration of movable roof structure 16 will be understood to be complementary to the design of fixed roof structure 14 and of the overall stadium 10. The specific description of these structures in this document are by way of example only and should not be considered to unnecessarily limit the scope of the disclosure.
Movable roof structure 16 is selectively movable relative to fixed roof structure 14 between a first position where movable roof structure 16 extends across and closes off opening 22 (
As discussed earlier herein, movable roof structure 16 is a long-span assembly or long-span structure that is comprised of one or more roof panels 24 which are engaged with one or more long-span trusses 26. Each panel 24 is fabricated from one or more sheet materials or membranes that are secured to the one or more trusses 26. Suitable materials for the panels 24 may include flexible composite materials, metal, fabrics, and the like. The trusses 26 are arranged and secured together to give the movable roof structure 16 the desired shape. The plurality of trusses 26 includes at least a lowermost beam, such as the I-beam 28, illustrated in
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a support assembly is provided for operatively engaging movable roof structure 16 to one or both of fixed roof structure 14 and wall 12. The support assembly is generally indicated by reference number 30 (
As depicted in the attached figures, first and second girders 32, 38 extend between first side 12c and second side 12d of stadium 10, are oriented substantially parallel to each other, and are spaced laterally a distance apart from each other. First and second girders 32, 38 are illustrated as being oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis “Y” of stadium 10. First rail 34 is mounted generally centrally along a midline of an upper surface of first girder 32. Consequently, first rail 34 is oriented generally parallel to longitudinal axis “Y”. Similarly, second rail 40 is mounted generally centrally along a midline of an upper surface of second girder 38 and is therefore oriented generally parallel to longitudinal axis “Y”.
The first and second rails 34, 40 are thus parallel to each other and laterally spaced from each other. The longitudinal axis “Y” may also be referred to as the direction of the rail or the direction of travel of the movable roof structure 16. A transverse axis (i.e., lateral axis) oriented at ninety degrees to longitudinal axis “Y” may be referred to as perpendicular to the rail or perpendicular to the direction of travel of the roof panel. These directions typically coincide with the long dimension of the stadium 10 and short dimension of the stadium 10 in plan, respectively.
First and second girders 32, 38 are supported at a desired height from the ground. As illustrated in the attached figures, first and second girders 32, 38 are mounted on an exterior surface of fixed roof structure 14. It will be understood, however, that any suitable placement and method of mounting first and second girders 32, 38 is contemplated to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Each girder 32, 38 may be substantially straight along its length. If the design of the stadium requires it, each girder 32, 38 may be curved along its length or include straight sections and curved sections.
It will be understood that in another examples, first and second girders 32, 38 may be oriented substantially parallel to a lateral axis or to an axis oriented differently to either of the longitudinal axis “Y” or lateral axis of the stadium. This orientation is not typically utilized for the direction of travel of the movable roof structure but is possible. In other instances, the stadium may be symmetrical and the movement of the movable roof structure is along an axis chosen by the architect. The axis selected by the architect may often be selected to optimize how shadows are cast on the playing surface by the sun or to match the size and shape of the playing surface and limits of the spectator seating.
The plurality of bogies are engaged with the first and second rails 34, 40. The plurality of bogies include a plurality of first bogies 36 (
The first bogies 36 that are operatively engaged with the first rail 34 are all substantially identical in structure and function to each other and all are fixedly secured to the trusses 26 and/or panels 24 of movable roof structure 16. As illustrated in the attached figures, the first bogies 36 are fixedly secured to the lowermost I-beam 28 of movable roof structure 16. In particular, each first bogie is bolted or welded or otherwise secured immovably to I-beam 28. First bogies 36 are therefore of a type that will be referred to hereinafter as a “fixed” bogie”.
The second bogies 42 that are operatively engaged with the second rail 40 are all substantially identical in structure and function to each other. The second bogies 42 differ from the first bogies 36 in both structure and function. Second bogies 42 are not fixedly secured to the trusses 26 or panels 24 of the movable roof structure 16. In particular, second bogies 42 are floatingly or slidingly engaged with the lowermost I-beam 28 of the movable roof structure 16. Each second bogie 42 will therefore be referred to hereinafter as a “float bogie” or a “slide bogie”. The first and second bogies 36, 42 will be further described hereafter. Two or more first bogies 36 and two or more second bogies 42 are utilized to operatively engage movable roof structure 16 to the rail system.
In order to operatively engage and adequately support movable roof structure 16 with the rail system, i.e., with first and second rails 34, 40 and first and second girders 32, 38, about ten first bogies 36 and about ten second bogies 42 may be utilized. The same number of first and second bogies 36, 42 will typically be used to engage and support a movable roof structure 16 with the rail system. Each of the first and second bogies 36, 42 is operatively secured to a section of the trusses 26, for example, to the I-beam 28, or is secured to the panels 24. Each of the first and second bogies 36, 42 is engaged with the associated first or second rail 34, 40 and the bogies are spaced at substantially uniform intervals from each other along the associated rail.
It will be understood that the size and weight of each of the first bogies 36 and second bogies 42 is selected based on the specific engineering application. By way of example only, each of the first bogies 36 and each the second bogies 42 may weigh around twenty-five tons and may be about twenty-four feet long and about ten feet high. The maximum width of certain regions of each of the first bogies 36 and second bogies 42 may also differ and will be discussed later herein.
Referring to
Referring to
Connector bracket 52 includes a top plate 52a, a first side plate 52b and a second side plate 52c that each extend downwardly from a lower surface of top plate 52a. The width “W1” (
The size of gap 52e in connector bracket 52 is sufficiently large enough that primary equalizer beam 44 may be received therein in an orientation that places top surface 44a proximate a lower surface of top plate 52a and the angled top surface 44b extends forwardly beyond first and second side plates 52b, 52c and towards first side 44c. First and second side plates 52b, 52c define a pair of aligned apertures 52f therein. When primary equalizer beam 44 is positioned in gap 52e, apertures 52f are aligned with apertures 44j and a first pin 54 is received therethrough. First pin 54 secures connector bracket 52 and primary equalizer beam 44 together. When secondary equalizer beam 46 is received in the gap 44h between first and second sides 44f, 44g, apertures 46j are aligned with apertures 44k and a second pin 56 is received therethrough. Second pin 56 secures primary equalizer beam 44 and secondary equalizer beam together.
As indicated earlier herein, first bogie 36 includes two driven wheel assemblies 48. Each of these driven wheel assemblies 48 may be of any type that is known in the art and therefore will only be described in general terms. A first wheel assembly 48 may include a body 58 that is sized to be received in the gap defined between first side 46f and second side 46g of secondary equalizer beam 46. A pair of aligned apertures 58a is defined in body 58. When wheel assembly 48 is received in the gap between first side 46f and second side 46g, apertures 58a are aligned with apertures 46k and a third pin 60 is received therethrough. Third pin 60 secures wheel assembly 48 to secondary equalizer beam 46.
A second wheel assembly 48 may include a body 58 that is sized to be received in the gap 44h between first side 44f and second side 44g of primary equalizer beam 44 as is shown in
As best seen in
Depending on how the roof system is constructed, it could be beneficial in some examples to include an extended connector bracket 52 to assure simple pin loading on the primary equalizer. Without using a connector bracket as shown, the bearing load on the primary equalizer may not be (theoretically) perfectly centered as it is with a pin. This may result in unequal wheel loading which must be accounted for in the design. The elastomeric element in the expansion bearing is intended to help reduce any eccentricity effect.
Second bogie 42 comprises a body that generally has a top 42a (
Like first bogie 36, second bogie 42 is also caused to move in a selected one of the first longitudinal direction “A” and the second longitudinal direction “B” along a longitudinally-oriented pathway. (It should be understood that both the first bogies 36 and the second bogies 42 will move in the same direction at the same time.) The longitudinal pathway that second bogies 42 travel is, in this particular instance, formed by second rail 40 mounted on second girder 38.
As best seen in
The differently configured primary equalizer beam 144 of second bogie 42 includes a generally horizontal top surface 144a and an angled top surface 144b that extends downwardly from top surface 144a and towards front end 42e. A support plate 182 is welded on top surface 144a immediately rearwardly of angled top surface 144b. Support plate 182 has an upper surface 182a (
Second bogie 42 differs from first bogie 36 in that support plate 182 on second bogie 42 is wider and longer than top plate 52 on first bogie 36. As indicated earlier herein, top plate 52a may be of a width “W1” (
A further difference between first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 is that the primary equalizer beam 144 does not include apertures 44j and the first pin 54 that are present on first bogie 36. In another example, the upper portion of the primary equalizer beam 144 on the second bogie 42 could be configured to utilize a connector like top plate 52 except with that connector being strengthened to resist the eccentric load of the bearing assembly 180 and movable roof structure 16. In this example, a pin similar to the first pin 54 would also be required. Additionally, in this case, the bearing assembly 180 would be configured with a larger footprint in plan for stability.
All other parts of second bogie 42, e.g. secondary equalizer beam 46, driven wheel assemblies 48 and non-driven wheel assembly 50 are substantially identical in structure and function to those same components on first bogie 36
As indicated earlier herein, a bearing assembly 180 operatively engages movable roof structure 16 and second bogie 42. The bearing assembly 180 is provided to enable movable roof structure 16 to expand or contract in length as a result of a changes in temperature, i.e., changing thermal conditions, without interfering with the ability to move the movable roof structure 16 between the first position and the second position. The bearing assembly 180 that is utilized in the present disclosure preferably is a commercially available bearing assembly. For example, one suitable bearing assembly is a commercially available bridge-style bearing such as the Uplift Bridge Bearing manufactured by RJ Watson Inc. of Alden, N.Y., USA.
Referring to
Each disc element 186 is positioned above one of the lower bearing plates 184. Disc element 186 comprises an elastomeric element, particularly a polyether urethane load element and may be generally rectangular or generally circular in shape when viewed from above (
Annular side surface 186c of disc element 186 may be at least partially concavely curved such as by forming an annular groove in the same. The groove allows disc element 186 to deform without bulging out on the side surfaces 186c when the load of the movable roof structure 16 is transferred onto second bogie 42. The elastomeric nature of disc element 186 allows small rotation release about all three axes of rotation when bearing assembly 180 is loaded. By utilizing such disc elements 186, the bearing assembly 180 may be able to accommodate vertical design loads of 10,000 to 15,000 kips or more while maintaining the disc element's ability to provide rotation.
It will be understood that while two spaced-apart disc elements 186 are illustrated as being used in bearing assembly 180, in other examples only a lower bearing plate and a single disc element 186 may be utilized. In other examples more than two disc elements 186 may be utilized on one or more lower bearing plates.
A first layer 188 of a low-friction material or a friction-reducing material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is applied to upper surface 186a of each disc element 186 and to the upper portions of the annular side surface 186c thereof. PTFE is marketed under the trademark TEFLON®; a registered trademark of THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC of Wilmington, Del., US.
As can be seen from
Support plate 182, lower bearing plate 184, disc elements 186, first layer 188 of PTFE, and first guides 190 are secured together as described above, and move in unison with second bogie 42. Support plate 182, lower bearing plate 184, disc elements 186, first layer 188 of PTFE, and first guides 190 may be considered as a first member of bearing assembly 180. The first member is represented by the reference number 180A in
Referring to
Upper surface 192a of upper bearing plate 192 is welded to lowermost flange 28a of I-beam 28. A second guide 194 is welded to each side surface 192c and to an outermost region of bottom surface 192b of upper bearing plate 192. Each second guide 194 runs for substantially the entire width “W3” of upper bearing plate 192. Each second guide 194 is generally L-shaped when viewed from a first side as in
Bearing assembly 180 further includes a slider plate 196 that is engaged with upper bearing plate 192. Slider plate 196 may be generally an inverted U-shape in cross-section and includes an upper surface 196a, a lower surface 196b, a first leg 196c, and a second leg 196d. First and second legs 196c, 196d originate at upper surface 196a and extend downwardly for a distance beyond lower surface 196b. Upper surface 196a is welded to lower surface 192b of upper bearing plate 192. The outer surfaces of first and second legs 196c and 196d are welded to second guide 194. As can be seen from
Slider plate 196 is fabricated from stainless steel. The lower surface 196b and the inner surfaces of first leg 196c and second leg 196d are polished to a mirror finish to provide a friction-reducing surface or low-friction surface. That mirror finish is identified in
Upper bearing plate 192, second guides 194, and slider plate 196 are fixedly secured to each other and move in unison with each other. Since lower flange 28a of I-beam 28 is welded to upper bearing plate 192, movable roof structure 16 will move in unison with upper bearing plate 192 and vice versa. Upper bearing plate 192, second guides 194, and slider plate 196, may be considered to be a second member of bearing assembly 180. This second member of the bearing assembly 180 is identified by the reference number 180B in
Because roof panel 24 and/or truss assembly 26 of movable roof structure 16 are fabricated partially or completely from metal, when movable roof structure 16 is exposed to heat or to cold, the roof panel 24 and/or truss assembly 26 may undergo thermal expansion (when heated) or thermal contraction (when cooled). The thermal expansion tends to make the roof panel 24 and/or truss 26 “grow” longer while thermal contraction tends to make the roof panel 24 and/or truss 26 “grow” shorter. Since the second member 180B (
The functioning of the bearing assembly 180 in response to temperature changes will be discussed in greater detail hereafter. As indicated earlier herein, second member 180B of bearing assembly 180 is fixedly secured to movable roof structure 16 and will move in unison therewith. Second member 180B of bearing assembly 180 will be in a neutral position when the movable roof structure 16 is in a neutral position, i.e., not undergoing changes in length due to temperature. Second member 180B of bearing assembly 180 may be moved in a lateral first direction “C1” (
The potential lateral movement of second member 1806 away from the neutral position is indicated by arrows “C” in
Second member 180B of bearing assembly 180 may move from the position shown in
Second member 180B of bearing assembly 180 may slide relative to first member 180A through a relatively wide range of distances. The materials used to fabricate movable roof structure 16 will be designed to expand and contract within preset tolerances and these preset tolerances will tend to limit the extent of sliding motion between second member 180B and first member 180A as described above. In some examples stops (not shown) may be provided on bearing assembly 180 to prevent sliding motion beyond a certain point. It will be understood that the sliding distance of about two feet in the lateral first direction and two feet in the lateral second direction is given by way of example only. Bearing assembly 180 may be designed to permit sliding motion of less than two feet in each lateral direction or may be designed to permit sliding motion of more than two feet in each lateral direction. Furthermore, bearing assembly 180 may be designed to permit greater sliding motion in one lateral direction than in the other lateral direction.
In summary,
Furthermore, since the plurality of first bogies 36 are fixedly engaged proximate a first side of movable roof structure 16 and the plurality of second bogies 42 are fixedly engaged proximate a second side of movable roof structure 16, because of the use of slide bearing assemblies 180, the direction of the “growth” of movable roof structure 16 through thermal expansion or thermal contraction is predictable. It is therefore possible for the probable load carried by the various first and second bogies 36, 42 to be readily calculated during the design phase of stadium 10. As a consequence, it is also possible to calculate the optimum number of first and second bogies 36, 42 that could be required in order to adequately and more safely support any particular movable long-span structure.
As was mentioned with respect to
While first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 have been described herein as being configured to be engaged with a single rail 34, 40, respectively, it will be understood that one or both of first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 may, instead, be configured to be engaged with a track comprising a pair of spaced-apart parallel rails. In other examples, other mechanisms for moving first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 along a girder may be utilized instead of the wheel assemblies 48, 50 disclosed herein.
Furthermore, while at least some of the wheel assemblies disclosed herein have been disclosed as including motors and gear assemblies that are actuated to cause the first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 to move in one of a first longitudinal direction and a second longitudinal direction, it will be understood that any other mechanisms may be used instead of the motors and/or the gear assemblies to move the roof and bogies 36, 42. In some examples, the driving mechanism may be completely separate from bogies 36, 42 and then the bogies 36, 42 become idlers, in which case the three two-wheel trucks will not have any drive mechanism at all.
It will further be understood that each of the first bogie 36 and second bogie 42 may be provided with an electronic device that may be actuated by a remote computer. For example, first and second bogies 36, 42 may include a microprocessor that is operatively engaged with a centralized computer that may initiate and stop closing and opening of the movable long-span structure. In addition to controlling opening and closing of the roof structure, the remote computer may also be used to control speed, acceleration, position of one set of bogies 36, 42 relative to the other set of bogies 36, 42 to control skew, etc. The remote computer may also monitor all the electronic motor control drives (variable frequency drives), checks to make sure maximum speed thresholds have not been exceeded, opens and closes brakes, monitors the emergency stop pushbuttons, controls rail brakes and monitors travel limit switches as primary functions. The remote computer also monitors many non-primary functions and performs diagnostics.
The apparatus as disclosed herein is used in the following manner. A first rail 34 and a second rail 40 are mounted to a support structure in a stadium (e.g. wall 12 and/or fixed roof structure 14 or any other provided support) such that first rail 34 and second rail 40 are parallel to each other and spaced apart. A plurality of first bogies 36 is engaged on first rail 34. Each of the plurality of first bogies 34 is fixedly secured to a first region of a movable roof structure 16 (
At the same time as second bogie 42 is permitting movable roof structure 16 to grow laterally through the engagement of bearing assembly 180 with the second end (or second region) of movable roof structure 16, the fixed engagement of first bogies 36 with the first end (or first region) of movable roof structure 16 substantially prevents lateral movement of the first end or first region of the movable roof structure 16. The second bogie 42 disclosed herein, and the combination of the first bogies 36 and second bogies 42, in particular, enables forcing of growth of the movable roof structure 16 in a predetermined direction. This helps prevent excessive lateral loads from being applied to bogies 36, 42 by them trying to resist the growth of the roof 18. The lateral load in this instance due to growth is limited to friction at the bearing assembly 180.
It will be understood that in some examples, a small amount of lateral movement is permitted on the “fixed” side bogies to allow for rail misalignment and other factors. This small amount of lateral movement is enabled by allowing a small gap between the vertical faces of the pin connected parts (not using a slide bearing as is the case on the float side.
The apparatus disclosed herein may be used to support any number of support points on a truss. For example, it is contemplated that the system may include three rails with a center rail being fixed and the outer rails being allowed to float.
It will further be understood that the disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods may be applied to almost any long-span structure, particularly a long-span structure that moves on a rail system with bogies or on any other type of transport system. This disclosure should not be construed as being limited only to movable long-spans on athletic stadiums in the form of movable roof structures.
It will be understood that in some embodiments, the disclosed apparatus, which comprises an expansion bearing assembly sitting atop a bogie, can include any even number of wheels. In practical terms, the expansion bearing assembly may be provided on any transport device that has from two to sixteen or more wheels. In one embodiment, for example, the expansion bearing assembly may be mounted on top of a simple two-wheeled truck. In this configuration, equalizer beams would not be necessary. The purpose of the equalizer beams is to make the wheel loads determinate and the apparatus will include the minimum number of equalizer beams that make it possible to make the wheel loads determinate. The equalizer beams are generally designed to fit into the available space. There may be many ways to configure the equalizer beams accordingly. For example, if headroom is not an issue, the equalizer beams may be straight and without sloped sections. It should be understood that the disclosed apparatus may be free of equalizer beams or may include any number required to make the wheel loads determinate. The shape of the equalizer beams may also be varied based on the configuration of the stadium into which the roof is to be installed. It will be understood that the specific number and shape of equalizer beams disclosed herein is by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting the invention to the specific configuration disclosed herein.
Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.
While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.
If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.
Additionally, any method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in a different order could achieve a similar result.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/778,053, filed Dec. 11, 2018, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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