ACTIVE/ADAPTIVE BUILDING STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

Abstract

A building, comprises at least a first wall including a plurality of first members each having a fixed length and a plurality of second members each having a variable length, the first members and the second members being coupled in a lattice structure. The second members are configured to lengthen or shorten in response to structural strain or pressure caused by thermal cycling of the building.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates to methods and system for building very large structures capable of actively compensating for thermal expansion and contraction and wind forces.

2. Background

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of presenting the general context of the disclosure. Nothing described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art, are expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

The idea of an “energy tower” capable of generating internal wind has been studied for several decades. Unfortunately, to be effective, such energy towers must be of an immense size. Unfortunately, conventional building techniques cannot be used to create such a structure for a variety of reasons not apparently appreciated by those in the relevant arts.

For example, thermal cycling due to daily exposure to sun followed by nighttime periods of cooler temperatures and rainstorms can cause the energy tower to tear itself apart. Accordingly, new building techniques capable of accounting for thermal cycling are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and nature of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which reference characters identify corresponding items.

FIG. 1 is a novel energy tower capable of extracting energy from the atmosphere using multiple techniques.

FIG. 2 is a plan view perspective of the energy tower of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view perspective of a portion of a wall of the energy tower of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a side view perspective of a portion of a wall of the energy tower of FIG. 1 stressed in a first way.

FIG. 3C is a side view perspective of a portion of a wall of the energy tower of FIG. 1 stressed in a second way.

FIG. 4 is an example of an active structural member shown in FIGS. 3-3C.

FIG. 4B is a second example of an active structural member shown in FIGS. 3-3C.

FIG. 5 depicts a first transfer function for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 6 depicts a second transfer function for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 8 is a second example of a lattice structure usable for constructing walls.

FIG. 9 is a third example of a lattice structure usable for constructing walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed methods and systems below may be described generally, as well as in terms of specific examples and/or specific embodiments. For instances where references are made to detailed examples and/or embodiments, it should be appreciated that any of the underlying principals described are not to be limited to a single embodiment, but may be expanded for use with any of the other methods and systems described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise stated specifically.

FIG. 1 is a novel energy tower 100 capable of extracting energy from the atmosphere using multiple techniques by generating downward winds—and thus wind energy—using hot-dry air. As the basic concepts of such towers are known in the relevant arts, no further detail will be provided as to the basic theory of operation of previously conceived devices that may apply to the present device. As shows in FIG. 1, the energy tower 100 includes an upper lip 110, a hollow/vertical member 112 and a base 114. The base 114 houses an array of wind-tunnels and turbines as will be shown below. The lip, 110, vertical member 112 and base 114 cooperate to cause heavy moisture-laden air to accelerate internal to the vertical member 112 into the individual wind tunnels (not shown) located in the base 114.

FIG. 2 is a top-down (plan view) perspective of the energy tower 100 of FIG. 1. The energy tower 100 has a main cylindrical wall 250 whereby inside the cylindrical wall 250 downward wind drafts are generated by adding moisture to hot-dry air occurring at the top of the tower 100.

Moisture is added by a series of sprinklers (not shown) located at or near the top of the tower 100 with the sprinklers arranged in a radial web-like structure. In various embodiments, moisture can be controllably to air as a function of the atmospheric conditions at the top of the tower 100 as measured by a variety of sensors (not shown). For example, the moisture provided by the sprinklers may be increased with increased temperatures and/or lower humidity, or conversely the moisture provided by the sprinklers may be decreased with decreased temperatures and/or increased humidity. Further, the moisture provided may be changed based on any given set of conditions depending on whether it may be deemed desirable to increase, decrease or maintain a particular wind speed at the bottom of the tower 100.

Outside the cylindrical wall 250 extend thirty-eight (38) vanes 210 that, with the cylindrical wall 250, define thirty-eight (38) vertically elongated air pockets 212 where incident wind may be captured and directed to one or more wind tunnels. Note that the tower 100 is cylindrically-shaped, and the vanes 210 extend in a radial fashion from the energy tower 100 and provide structural support to the energy tower 100. To help direct incident wind, flaps 220 are incorporated within each pocket 212. FIG. 2B depicts details of the tower energy wall 250, vanes 210, air pockets 212, and sprinkler system with sprinklers 270. To help accelerate wind in the air pockets 212, moisture may be added as is further explained below.

It is to be appreciated in light of the present specification that the vanes 210 have at least two functions: (1) to add structural integrity/support to the energy tower 100 as a buttress, and (2) to provide an additional form of energy generation by way of capturing wind energy. In this sense, the vanes provide two novel improvements over previously conceived/conventional energy towers.

FIG. 3 is a plan of elevation perspective of a portion of a wall of the energy tower of FIG. 1. The wall portion is arranged as a two-dimensional Cartesian lattice having horizontal members 310 of a fixed length, vertical members 312 of a fixed length, horizontal members 320 of a variable length, and coupling devices 330 used to connect the various members 310, 312 and 320. While the material and construction of the fixed-length members 310 and 312 may vary in different embodiments, for the present example they are rigid and constructed from high-strength and light drawn-steel tubing. As will be shown below, the variable length members 320 are also rigid and cooperatively form an expansion/contraction joint between different sets of the fixed-length members 310 and 312.

FIG. 3B is a perspective of the wall portion of FIG. 3 stressed in a first way presumable due to expansion or contraction of a number of (unseen) members caused by imposed loads, such as thermal cycling (expansion and contraction) and/or wind loading. FIG. 3C is a side view perspective of the wall portion of FIG. 3 stressed in a second way again presumable due to expansion or contraction of a number of (unseen) members caused by imposed loads, such as thermal cycling and/or wind loading. As can be seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the variable-length members 320 either shorten or lengthen in response to structural strain or pressure caused by imposed loads on the tower 100, which causes stress or strain forces on the variable-length members 320, but precludes excessive forces too act upon the fixed-length members 310 thereby preventing structural deformation or other damage to them and the tower 100 as a whole.

While the variable-length members 320 are capable of changing length, it is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that the variable-length members 320 may not freely change length without compromising the integrity of the overall structure as variable-length members 320 may need to be load-bearing members, i.e., they need to be able to provide structure and not appreciable expand or contract in response to external forces. To address this issue, the variable-length members 320 are constructed so as both have a static (structural load-bearing) mode where the length of the variable-length members 320 remains unchanged for forces acting upon it below a particular threshold, and a dynamic mode where the length of the variable-length members 320 can change for forces acting upon it above the threshold. By virtue of these characteristics, the variable-length members 320 can lengthen or shorten in response to imposed loads on the tower 100 thereby avoiding structural damage to the first members while at the same time provide load-bearing structure.

FIG. 4 is an example of a variable-length structural member 320A shown in FIGS. 3-3C. The variable-length structural member 320A includes two elongated tubes 420 and 422 capable of sliding one within the other, a hydraulic chamber 410 coupled to a rod and seal 414, a first mechanical link 424 coupling the hydraulic cylinder 410 to elongated tube 420, a second mechanical link 426 coupling the hydraulic rod 410 to elongated tube 422, flange 460 for coupling tube 420 to a surface (e.g., to a structural member), flange 462 for coupling tube 422 to another surface (e.g., to a vertical member), and a collapsible accordion dust cover 472 to prevent contamination from entering the space between the two elongated tubes 420 and 422. Grease tubes (not shown) may be added for periodically supplying lubricant between the two elongated tubes 420 and 422. Coupled to the variable-length structural member 320 is a hydraulic valve 490 via hydraulic supply/return hose 460 and hydraulic supply/return hose 462. An accumulation (not shown) may be optionally added to one or both supply/return hose 460 and 462.

For the purpose of this disclosure the terms “pressure” and “force” are used interchangeably as the pressure (positive or negative) within hydraulic chamber 410 will generally be proportional to the force (stress or strain) applied between flanges 460 and 462. In the example of FIG. 4, the hydraulic valve 490 is shown to have a transfer function of hydraulic flow as a function of pressure/force. In this example, the hydraulic valve 490 prevents hydraulic flow for low-level pressures between −PT to +PT. Thus, for low-level stress or strain, the hydraulic valve 490 causes the variable-length structural member 320A to behave like a fixed-length structural member.

However, for pressures that exceed these boundaries, the hydraulic valve 490 allows hydraulic flow to pass, which in turn allows the variable-length structural member 320A to increase or decrease in length. Thus, it is to be appreciated that a second/variable-length member can be “load bearing” in that it is appreciably resistant to movement when forces act upon them, but will vary in length in order to compensate for forces that might otherwise cause a structural failure.

FIG. 4B is a second example of a variable-length structural member 320B shown in FIGS. 3-3C. The second variable-length structural member 320B is similar to the variable-length structural member 320A of FIG. 4, but further includes a linear sensing rod 470 and connection line 472 that enable a device to determine the total length of the variable-length structural member 320B.

Also in this example, the hydraulic valve 490 is replaced with a controller 480 and a bidirectional hydraulic pumping system 492 containing, for example a unidirectional pump with a bidirectional valve system. While the controller 480, can operate using a transfer function similarly to the hydraulic valve 490 of FIG. 4, it is to be appreciated in light of the present specification that other transfer functions may be used.

In operation, the controller 480, which may include a variety of dedicated circuitry and/or a programmable processor with a central processing unit (CPU) and memory, can implement any number of transfer functions based upon linear position sensed by transducer 482 and/or pressure/force sensed by transducer 484. Upon sensing the states of interest, the controller 480 can implement the transfer function so as to develop an output command to the hydraulic pumping system 492, which will in turn cause the hydraulic pumping system 492 to force fluid flow to/from the hydraulic cylinder 410, which in turn causes the variable-length structural member 320B to increase or decrease in length.

In some embodiments, one, some or all variable length structural members in the same expansion/contraction joint may be coupled to a common hydraulic control system so as to be controlled by the bidirectional hydraulic pumping system 492.

FIG. 5 depicts a first transfer function 510 for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B. As shown in FIG. 5, the transfer function 510 uses one or both of hydraulic pressure and member length/position from a variable-length structural member 320B to develop a hydraulic flow command, which in turn causes a change in length of the variable-length structural member 320B.

FIG. 6 depicts a second transfer function 610 for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B. Unlike the first transfer function 510, the second transfer function 610 uses pressure and or position information from a plurality of sources, such as other variable-length structural members or sensors otherwise located in the energy tower 100. Optionally, acceleration sensors may be used to provide information as to seismic activity and/or the plumb/level of various structural members. Again, the transfer function 610 uses some or all of the available sensor information to develop a hydraulic flow command, which in turn causes a change in length of the variable-length structural member 320B.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart outlining an exemplary operation for controlling the active structural member of FIG. 4B. The process starts in step 710 where sensor data, such as pressure/force data, acceleration data and position data of one or more fixed and/or variable-length members is measured. Next, in step 720, a transfer function is applied to the measured sensor data to develop a hydraulic flow command. Then, in step 730, the resultant hydraulic flow is applied to a variable-length member to compensate for thermal cycling, or other imposed loads/forces, such as loads/forces caused by incident wind or seismic activity.

FIG. 8 is a second example of a lattice structure usable for constructing walls or other structural units, which for this example shows a triangular matrix. FIG. 9 is a third example of a lattice structure usable for constructing walls, which for this example is a hexagonal matrix. It is to be appreciated in light of FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 that a structural matrix may be Cartesian, triangular, hexagonal or based upon any other number of geometrical configurations. It is to be further appreciated that the variable-length members 320 of FIG. 3 may be arranged as a parallel group and arranged vertically or horizontally, or a combination of both, and that a second group of variable-length members may be arranged orthogonally to the first group. As shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and 9, the second/variable-length members can be parallel to one another, or arranged in different sets of parallel members with the different sets being orthogonal or otherwise set non-parallel to other sets of second/variable-length members.

Still further, while the structural matrices of FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 are shown as two-dimensional matrices (height and width), the concept can be extended to three-dimensions (height, width and depth) as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant arts in view of this disclosure. In fact, all of FIGS. 3, 8 and 9 can be taken to simultaneously represent elevated views or plan views of a given wall.

The various fixed and variable-length members above are structural members. Accordingly, facades and other wall coverings, such as steel plating, may be affixed to a lattice in order to form a wind barrier. In some embodiments and/or situations, such facades/coverings may be configured to slide relative to one another to compensate for expansion and contraction.

What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principal and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A building, comprising:

at least a first wall that includes a plurality of rigid load-bearing first members and a plurality of second members coupled together in a lattice structure, the plurality of first members each having a fixed length, and the plurality of rigid second members each having a variable length and cooperatively forming an expansion/contraction joint between different sets of first members;

wherein the second members have a static load-bearing mode when incident forces are below a first threshold, and a non-static mode when incident forces are above the first threshold so as to lengthen or shorten in response to imposed loads on the building thereby avoiding structural damage to the first members.

2. The building of claim 1, wherein lattice is at least a two-dimensional lattice.

3. The building of claim 2, wherein lattice is at least a three-dimensional lattice.

4. The building of claim 2, wherein at least a first group of the second members are arranged parallel to one another.

5. The building of claim 4, wherein at least a second group of the second members are arranged non-parallel to the first group of the second members.

6. The building of claim 1, wherein each of the second members includes a hydraulic cylinder.

7. The building of claim 6, wherein each of the hydraulic cylinders are controlled by a hydraulic valve that causes the hydraulic cylinders to be static for a first range of force [0 to force F1], and moveable for a second range of force greater than force F1.

8. The building of claim 6, wherein each of the hydraulic cylinders are controlled by a hydraulic pumping system under direction of one or more controllers configured according to a transfer function.

9. The building of claim 8, wherein each of the hydraulic cylinders are controlled by a common hydraulic pumping system under direction of one or more controllers configured to control the hydraulic cylinders according to a transfer function.

10. The building of claim 8, wherein the transfer function causes the hydraulic cylinders to be static for a first range of force [0 to force F1], and moveable for a second range of force greater than force F1.

11. The building of claim 8, wherein the transfer function uses sensed forces from a plurality of second members to control the length or movement of at least one second member.

12. The building of claim 8, wherein the transfer function uses sensed lengths from a plurality of second members to control the length or movement of at least one second member.

13. The building of claim 8, wherein the transfer function uses sensed acceleration to control the length or movement of at least one second member.

14. The building of claim 4, wherein the first members and the second members are arranged in a Cartesian matrix.

15. The building of claim 4, wherein the first members and the second members are arranged in a triangular matrix.

16. The building of claim 4, wherein the first members and the second members are arranged in a hexagonal matrix.

17. The building of claim 1, wherein the imposed load is caused by thermal expansion or contraction of the building.

18. The building of claim 1, wherein the imposed load is caused by incident wind on the building.

19. The building of claim 6, wherein each first member includes a hollow drawn-steel portion.