Abstract: A hybrid turbomachine enclosure includes a plurality of walls interconnected to form an interior configured and disposed to receive a turbomachine, the plurality of walls including a first wall having a panel on frame construction and a hybrid wall including a first portion having a panel on frame structure and a second portion having a stiffened frame panel structure.

Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.

Abstract: A method of construction by which the framework of various structures can be erected in a Geodesic manner is proposed. These structures are Geodesic in that they are comprised of a large number of a few identical parts and such that the pressure on the structure is distributed throughout the structure: In this case, the thicker the Dimensions of the parts the greater the strength of the structure. This method uses hollow hexagonal and hollow pentagonal pyramidal frustums fastened together as the main building blocks of the Geodesic structure. These structures mirror the molecular world of the Carbon-60 molecule, the strongest molecule known for it's size. Thus, this proposed method of construction would provide structural enclosures that are immensely strong; such a structural enclosure given a superior quality rating by this method would be immune from the destructive effects of Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and earthquakes.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a variable stiffness joint is provided which has a plurality of structural members with a variable stiffness material coupled between the plurality of structural members. The variable stiffness material may be selectively activated/inactivated to control the stiffness of the joint. Additional embodiments and implementations are disclosed.

Abstract: A nuclear power plant building includes a building body portion and a roof covering over the building body portion. The building body portion is formed in a rectangular shape in plane cross section by four outer walls. The roof is of a shell construction. In addition, corner walls each to bridge between the adjacent outer walls or to bridge between the roof and the outer wall are provided at angle portions of the body portion of the building.

Abstract: Triangulated shells can be free-formed but are uneconomical compared to translational shells that can only be flat. Scale-trans shells are limited in terms of number and arrangement of the openings. The present invention provides a free-formed, custom-tailored shell surface and a regularly shaped, mass-produced shell surface that can be assembled fairly evenly from advantageously quadrangular mesh elements having coplanar node points. The flexibility of a triangle net of shell pieces in a large scale is combined with the evenness of a quad net for meshes in a small scale, whereby triangular meshes at the shared side of adjoining square nets are combined in pairs to give irregular quadrangular meshes having coplanar vertices. The inventive shell is especially suitable for use as an energy-saving building such as a weekend home, emergency shelter, cupola of an observatory, roof of a building or an inner courtyard, as the shell of a large multi-story building or as a sports hall or factory building.

Abstract: The invention is a collapsible structure comprising a plurality of panel elements, each having a coilable frame element and flexible material attached to the frame element. The panel elements are joined to define an enclosure having a roof portion and a bottom perimeter. The bottom perimeter rests on a supporting surface. The structure has at least one roof support rod having a first end and a second end. The first end of the at least one roof support rod is attached to a first location on the bottom perimeter, and the second end of the at least one roof support rod is attached to a second location on the bottom perimeter. The at least one roof support rod is in supporting contact with the roof portion of the enclosure.

Abstract: Improved reversibly expandable structures are formed from novel loop assemblies comprising a plurality of links, each of said links having at least one center pivot joint and a plurality of end pivot joints, each of at least two of said plurality of end pivot joints proximate to the outer edge of said loop assembly and connected to another link; each of said plurality of links being connected to another one of said plurality of links by at least two end pivot joints thereby forming a link pair, said loop assembly comprising at least three link pairs, each of said at least three link pairs connected to at least two other link pairs through at least one of said end pivot joints; each of said at least three link pairs connected to a central piece that is central to the loop assembly, said central piece being rotatable around a central axis, wherein the rotation of the central piece reversibly expands said loop assembly.

Abstract: A shanty and a system and method for assembling the same are provided. The shanty may be assembled, disassembled and re-assembled using the same components of the shanty. The shanty may have panels which may be removably fastened to each other to assemble the shanty. A first type of panel may be a wall panel. A second type of panel, namely, a roof panel, may be attached to the wall panel to provide a ceiling for the shanty. The panels may be substantially planar in shape. Moreover, the panels may have a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein a section of each of the panels at the first end extends toward the second end. To assemble the shanty, the section of a first panel which extends toward the second end may be fastened to the section of a second panel which extends toward the second end.

Abstract: A method and structural component for use in constructing geodesic domes using standardized polygon panels. The invention allows for the use of a reduced number of components to construct a geodesic dome. In one embodiment, a set of kite-shaped quadrilateral panels with an external convex surface are used to substantially construct a geodesic dome. A panel includes two lip seal panel edges. The lip seam edge includes an inwardly disposed lip forming a mating surface suitable for mating with an adjacent straight seam edge of a corresponding panel so that the engagement between the two edges forms a seal. The seal may be made to impede moisture by various fastening methods, including screwing, riveting, gluing, taping or welding. Practice of the invention reduces transportation, inventory, and handling expense. Procurement, assembly, and maintenance complexity for the end user is also reduced.

Abstract: Domed building structures are disclosed comprising a series of concentric rings or frustums, each comprising a plurality of panels (4, 5, 6, 8, 30, 32A, 32B, 32C) connected end to end around the ring. Some rings comprise only trapezoidal panels (4) whilst others comprise combinations of trapezoidal (6, 30) and triangular (8, 32A, 32B, 32C) panels. Some rings or frustums may incorporate bracing comprising ties (52, 54) disposed in the interior of the structure and connected with junctions between panels (50).

Abstract: A modular approach to designing all-hex mesh conversion templates where triangular and rectangular subdivision patterns may arbitrarily be combined on the exterior faces of the templates. The templates can be created for any arbitrary-shaped, complex geometric domain. The all-hex conversion software according to the present invention take as input any type of a hex-dominant mesh and converts it to an all-hex mesh automatically. An all-hex template according to the present invention is a family of modular sub-templates. These sub-templates can be assembled to form all-hex conversion templates for hexes, pyramids, and prisms. There are two types of modular sub-templates, called a core and a cap. For a hex or prism element, one core is defined, which specifies the subdivision patterns of two faces of the input hex or prism. Then four caps are defined for a hex and three caps for a prism to specify the subdivision patterns of the other faces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple assembled slow baking oven device, comprising a net member with a predetermined area; a plurality of clay blocks being flatly disposed on the surface of its top layer in a radiant form; an opening being disposed at the center of the net member; and each clay block has a coupling section for embedding another clay block on its lateral sides, such that when the opening at the center of the net member is pulled upward, the surrounding clay blocks will rise accordingly, and the gravity of the blocks automatically make the blocks to couple with each other on the lateral sides, and thus quickly completes a clay housing assembly for its use as a slow baking oven.

Abstract: A shell (20) of generally spherical form is constructed by assembly of a plurality of oblong segments (30). The segments are obtained by dividing a spherical rhombic surface into equal parts such as by lines (40) running generally parallel to opposite sides. A half dome is obtained by dividing the figure in half with a great circle (22). Partial segments (27, 29) are utilized with no resulting waste. When used as building or other structures, improvements are realized in cost, strength, and conservation of energy and material resources.

Abstract: A prefabricated structure for quickly erecting a gazebo and for combining a plurality of gazebos. The prefabricated structure includes a deck. The deck generally has a geometric shape such that a perimeter of the deck comprises a plurality of side edges. Each of a plurality of wall panels has a bottom edge, and a top edge. Each of the wall panels are positioned against one of the side edges of the deck and securely attached thereto. At least one of the wall panels has door therein. A plurality of roof panels each has a generally trapezoidal shape such that each of the roof panels comprises a first base, a second base, and two legs. The first base has a greater length than the second base. Each of the second bases and the legs has a lip extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the roof panels has a channel therein orientated generally perpendicular to and positioned generally adjacent to the first base. A central member couples to each of the second bases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a building system comprising prefabricated plates for self-supporting space boundaries. To enable simple construction of load-bearing structures that are versatile in three dimensions and that enclose spaces, plates, at least some of which are disposed at different inclinations, in the form of flat, slanted prisms are joined by their side faces directly to one another and/or via bars in the form of long, slanted, square prisms; adjacent connecting faces are congruent, and the square faces of different bars, are disposed parallel or perpendicular to one another.

Abstract: Reversibly expandable structures are formed from loop assemblies comprising interconnected pairs of polygonal shaped links. Each loop assembly has polygon links with at least three pivot joints and at least some of the polygon links have more than three pivot joints. Additionally, these links lie essentially on the surface of the structure or parallel to the plane of the surface of the structure. Each polygon link has a center pivot joint for connecting to another link to form a link pair. Each link also has at least one internal pivot joint and one perimeter pivot joint. The internal pivot joints are used for connecting link pairs to adjacent link pairs to form a loop assembly. Loop assemblies can be joined together and/or to other link pairs through the perimeter pivot joints to form structures.

Abstract: A building system comprised of panelized, modified rhombic triacontahedral structures further comprised of panels continuously connected along their edges by connectors whose profiles allow panels to swing, snap or slide together into strong, insulated buildings and unfasten for easy disassembly and re-use as temporary housing, storage, emergency shelter, work-camp and vacation homes. Vertical walls allow structures to be nested or mated together and allow use of standard doors, windows and fixtures. The connector is formed from extruded or cast plastic or aluminum, or formed steel. Carbon fiber reinforced resin may be used for specialized uses. The connector allows the use of a variety of standard manufacture laminated panels. The basic structure is comprised of ten identical wall panels and ten almost-identical roof panels joined by use of 35, 144° edge connectors. A minimum tripartite inventory, each of identical, easily mass produced parts, provides ease of production, shipping and assembly.