CA1273177A - Building panels - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Integral, elongated panels have sets of con-verging corrugations arranged on lines defined by folded, transversely triangular elements. These elements extend laterally across the panel, and are dimensioned such that a pair of adjacent parallel side edges of two correspond-ing panels can mate. Preferably, each corrugation has a planar element arranged on lines generally perpendicular to the side edge defining congruent elements with tri-angular faces meeting at the apex.
By such arrangement, a panel is obtained which in conjunction with other such panels, can produce a curved surface, which curvature may be reversed in direction in any point along a structure surface, by inverting the next adjacent series of panels.

Description

1~7;3~77 BUILDING PANELS
.
~IELD ~ THE INVENTION
This invention relate~ to building panel~ use-ful in con~tructin~ a variety of 6tructures.
DESCRIPTIpN OF THE PRIOR ART
In ~ttempt~ to ~inimize building con6tructîon time, and construction co~, numerou6 types of building panels have been devi~ed whi~h are prefabricated and c~n be connected together to produce surface~ in a building or ~tructure. In de~ig~ing such panel6, it i6 desirable to produee a panel which can produce 6tructurally ~trong walls or the like, and which al80 retain6 a fair degree ~f flexibility, such ~h~t structures of v~rying ~h~pe~
can be con~tructed utilizing panel~ of the ~ame basic 6hape.
Example6 of panel6 which have atte~pted to ~eet the ~bsve requirement~, are disclo~ed in U.S. patent~
number 3,389,513 to Rug~les and 3,q39,456 to Silberkuhl.
~he panel disclosed in the Ruggles patent con~i~t~ of two opposed, folded triangular ~ectio~6 disposed ~bout the ~iddle of t~e panel, ~nd extending lengthwi~e thereon.
The portions of the panel between the folded 6ection6 and 6ide edge6 of the panel are flat, ~nd are provided ~t their edges with flange6 by which the 6ide edge of adja-1~7~3~77rent panels can be connected together. ThiB require6 that ~uch panel descr~bed be forme~ indivi~u~lly. When it i~ then de6ired to construct a 6tructure surface u~ing ~uch panel~, ~he panel~ ~u6t be individually connected together. In addition, panel~ with ndj~cent c~nnected ~ide edge~ cannot be inverted with re~pect to one another, ~o ~6 to produce a structural ~urface which ha~
a varying direction of curvature ~ de6ired. Each of ~he panel~ of the Silberkuhl patent, on the other hand, con-~i6ts of a generally rectangular panel with a lengthwi~e extending folded triangul~r ~ection th~reon. m e remainder of the panel i8 flat and extend~ t~ flange~

thereon. It i8 po~ible 'co arrange adjacent 6et~ of such panel6 to be disposed at an angle to one another, a~

de6cribed in ~he patent. However, aqain, ~6 in the panel in the Ruggle~ patent~ each of the panel6 ~u6t be individually connected together through their flanges.

In addition, due to the shapin~ of eac~ individual panel and the pre~ence of it~ particular flanges, it i~ again not readily po6sible to rever6e the direction of cur-vature of a ~tructure rurface by 6imply invertin~ 60me of the connected panel~.

U.S. patent number 3,914,486 to Borqford further di~clo~e~ a three dimen~ional panel ~truc~ure apparently formed from a unitary sheet. However, ~uch a panel ~pparently doe6 not allow rever6ing curvature to be ~ 73~77 obtained in a ~tructure sLrface u6ing 6uch panel~ by ~i~ply inver~ing such panells. Further p~rticulAr panels ~re di~closed in U.~. patent n~mber 4,145,B50 to Runyon, U.~. patent number 3,66B,7g6 to Patter60n, and U~5.
Patent nu~ber 4,227,334 tG IHooker.

SUMMhRY OF 'rHE INVE~TION
, . . _ .
The pre~ent invention provide6 an integral, elongated panel. Such panel compri&e~ set~ of converging corrugation~ arranged on lines defined by folded, tran-ver6ely triangular element~ extending laterally across the panel seetion, ~uch that a pair of adjacent parallel 6ide edges of two corre~ponding panels, can ~ate. In ~ne arrange~ent, the c~nverging corrugation~ extend laterally acro6~ the panel in alternating ~irection.
Preferably, ~ach corrugation ha~ a planar ele-~ent arranged on lines generally perpendicular to the ~ide edge defining congruent element6 ~ith triangular face6 meeting a~ the apex. In such case, the tran6ver-~ely triangul~r elemen~ contain ~loping side edge por-tion~ of the panel, such that a pair of adjacent parallel 6ide edges of two such panels, c~n ~ate when the panel are laterally inclined toward one another~ In addition, each panel ~ay u6efully be provided with fiingle corruga-tion6 alternating in direction or ~ay be provided with a grouping of ~ore than one corrugation converging at one ~id2 edge. The ~lternating 8et6 of converging corrug~-1~7;3~7~ -ti~n~ ~ay ex~end only part way nlong the length vf the llnes defining the fold d transver~ely triangul~r ele~
~ents, ~o that ~ panel contains only truncated ele~ents or e~tend along the entire length thereof ~o that ~ panel cont~in~ ~ plur~lity of ~uch entire elements.
The p~nel ~ay be con~tructed with fir~ and serond side edges ~herepf, generally cur~ed, with the fir6t ~ide edge having a greater radius of curvature than the ~econd side edge. In ~uch ease the tranver~ely triangular element6 are all radially aligned (that i8, directed or poin~ed toward a comm~n center of a circle on which the panel lies), and directed toward the second side edge. In ~ddition, fir~t side edge portions of a fir6t set of alternate element~ are lower than re~pective opposite side edge portions. Second side edge portions of element~ of a ~econd set of alternate element~ inter-posed with those of the fir~t set, are al~o lower than re6pective opposite fir6t 6ide edge portions thereo, with the ~econd ~ide edge portions of the ele~ents of the second ~e~ being lower (i.e. of le~ height between the base and apex of the ~orrugation~) than the firsS ~ide edge portions of the element~ of the fir~t ~et. By 8uch arrangement the first 6ide edge of a first 6uch panel can ~ate with An adjacen~ congruent ~econd 6ide edge of a 6econd panel, when the second panel i~ inclined down-wardly w1th re~pect to ~he fir t panel (the "downward"

t ~ .7~ ~
direction being toward the l~se lines defining the corrugat,on63.
A ~ethod sf forming panels ~8 described i~
further provided, w~ich ~ethod co~pri6e~ folding ~ fl~t sheet ha~ing parallel fiide edge6 to pr~duce the c~n-verging corrugation6. In ~he case of the panel described with generally curved ~ide e~ge~, the ~ethod further include~ forming triangular dart6 on the 6ide edge~ vf' the 6heet.
An elongated panel i~ further proYided, which comprises a ~ir~t set o coplanar, parallel face6 e~tending laterally acros6 the panel at an angle to the 6ide edge~ of it. A ~econd ~et of coplanar faces are provided which e~tend parallel with the faces of ~he fir~t ~et and laterally acro6~ the panel in alternating relation6hip with the faces of the fir~ 6et. The gecond 6et i~ al~o disposed in a plane parallel to that in which the fir6t set of facec lie~. An elongated panel struc~ure can be created from such panel~, utilizing at lea6t two panel~ of the foregoing construction. The panel~ are di~posed parallel to one another with adjacent connec~ed face~, and orientated 6uch ~hat the faces of one panel, extend acros~ the panel ~tructure in a direc-tion opp~ite to that of the ~ace~ of the other panel.
Prefera~ly, the ~ace6 of each panel in the panel 6truc-ture, extend at an angle of 45 degree6 between the side ~ 73~ 7 ~dge~ thereof.
Further panel structure~ ~ay be created ut~-li~ing other panel6 ~ previou~ly ds6cribed; and ~ rein-~orcing, elongated panel di~posed with a f~ce thereof connected to ~ ace of the fir~t panel. Methods of c4nstructing a ~ruc~ure surface from a plurality of panel~ A~ described, ~re ~l~o provided. The method~
include forming such panels by folding ~heet ~etal coil stock, a6 well as providing dart~ where nece~ary. In u6e, the panel~ are p~sitioned with mating ~ide edgefi parallel and adjacent to one another, ~uch ~ating side edge~ then being connected by ~ean~ of welding, Gcrew~, or other 6uitable fa~tening ~ean~ de~ired, at the ~a~e time, or shortly before or thereafter, a plurality of rein~orcing panel6 as de~cribed, ~arl also be for~ed from 6heet ~etal coil stock, which then have their faces joined to respective faces of the fir~t panel6. In o~e par~icular ~ethod, the panel~ are formed from ~heet metal coil fit~ck and connected together, as the structure 6ur-facD i6 rai~ed.
DRAWINGS
Em~odi~ents of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 i8 a per~pective, 6chematici~ed view of a tructural ~urface being con~tructed in accordance with a method of the pre ent invention;

.7~7 Figure 2 i~ ~ pers,pective view of h panel of the pre~ent invention;
~ igure 2a iB ~ CroB~-6eCtion~l YieW ~long the line 2a-2a of Figure 2 Figure 3 i~ ~ pers,pect~ve view of ~ structur~l ~urface being con~tructed with a plurality of panel~ of the ~ype shown in Figure 2;
Figure 3a i~ ~ cro s-section of a p~rtion of'a structural surfac2 constructed with a plurality of panel~
of the typ shown in Figur~ 2, in conjun~tion with a plurality of further panel~
Figure 4 i~ a per~pecti~e view of ~n alte~nate for~ of the panel o$ the pre8ent invention;
Figure 5 is a per~pective view of a further panel of the pre~ent invention:
Figure Sa i~ a cross-~ectional view along the line 5a-5a in Figure 5:
~ igure Sb is a perspective view of a portion of a panel fitructure utilizing a plurality ~f panel~ of the type in Figure 5;
Figure 6 is a per~pective, partially broken away view of a panel ~truc~ure utilizing another for~ of the panel of the present invention:
Figure 7 is a per6pective YieW of another panel ~tructure utilizing $he p~nel ~hswn in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is 8 per~pective view of a ~urther 7~ 7~7 pan~l sf ~he pre~ent invent~on:
~ igure ~a i8 a cros~-~ectional view ~long the l~ne 8a-Ba of Figure B;
Fiyure Bb i8 ~ per~peetive view of 2 portion of structure ~urface utili~ing a plurality of ~he panel~
of ~igure 8, Figure 9 i~ a pl~n view of a flat blank cut in a shape to produce the panel ~f Figure~ 9a and 9b;
Figure 9a i~ a plan view of ~nother panel of the pre~ent invention, folded from the blank of Figure 9;
Figure 9b i8 a per6pective view of the panel o Fisure 9a, Figure 9c i~ a plan view of another blank cut in a ~hape to produce ~he panel of Figure ga;
~ igure 10 i~ a per6pective view of another panel of the pre~ent invention;
Fiyure 10a i~ a per~pective view of a ~tructure surfaee cons~ructed utilizing a plurality of panel6 of the type of Figure 10, with p~rtions thereof re~oved to show reinforcing panel6;
Figure 11 i~ a perspective view of a pOrtion of a further panel of the present invention;
~ igure 12 i~ a plan view of a further panel of the pre~ent invention;
Figure 12a i~ a 6ide edge view of the panel shown in Figure 12:

~ ~7~17~7 Figure 13 i~ ~ plan view of ~ further panel of the pre0ent ~nvention;
~ igure l~a i~ a 6i.de edge view of the panel ~hc~wn in ~igure 13.
Fi~3ure 14 i~ a pl~ln view of ~ nverging &eg~ent formed frc~iD three panel ~trip~;
~ igure 14a i8 a plan view of a flat blank ~arlced in a l;hape to produce the f ir~;t panel of Figure 1~;
Figure 14b i~ a plan view o~ a f lat blank marked in a shape to produce ~he 6econd panel of Figure 14;
Figure 14c i~ a plan view of a flat blank _g_ 7~3~7~7 ~arke~ in ~ ~hnpe t~ pr~duee the third pan~l of ~igure 1~:
Figure 14d i~ the upper 6ide edge view o~ the fir~t panel bl~nk after folding;
- Figure 14e i6 the lower ~ide edge view of the first panel blank nfter folding whioh corre~pond~ to the upper ~ide edge view of the second panel blank after folding: -- Figure 14f i6 the lower 6ide edge view of the second panel blank after folding which corre pond~ to the upper ~ide edge view of t~e third panel blank after - folding;
- Figure 149 i8 the lower ~ide edge view of the third panel blank after folding;
Figure 15 i8 a per~pective view of a ~tructure 6urface constructed utiliring a plurali~y of panel of the type of ~igure 15a, with portion~ thereof removed to ~how a reinforcing panel;
Figure 15a i~ a plan view of a flat blank ~ related to the panel ~hown in Figure 9a, with t~e corrug-ation~ ~et at an oblique angle to the ~ide edge:
Figure 16 i~ a plan view of a flat blank related to the panel ~hown in ~igure 2 marked for folding:
Figure 16a i6 a plan view of another flat blank related to the panel ~hown in Figure 2 ~arked for ~ 7~ 7 f~lding;
Figure 16b i6 the lower ~ifle edge view of the p~nel sh~wn in Figure 16 after folding:
~ igure 16c is the upper ~ide edge view ~f ~he panel 8hown in Figure 16 after folding, w~ich ~orre~p~nd6 to the lower &ide edge view of the panel 6hown in Figure 16a af ter folding;
Figure 16d i~ the upper ~ide edge view of th~
panel ~hown in Figure 16a after folding;
Figure 17 i6 a plan Yiew of a flat blank related to the panel 6hown in Figure 5 marked for folding;
Figure 17a i8 a plan view of another flat blank related to the panel ~hown in Figure 5 marlced ~or folding;
Figure 17b is the lower ~ide edge view of the panel ~hown in Figure 17 after folding:
Figure 17c i~ the upper ~ide view of the panel shown in Figure 17 after folding which correspond~ to th lower ~ide edge view of the panel ~hown in ~igure 17a after folding:
Figure 17d i~ the upper 6ide edge view of ~he panel ~hown in ~igure 17a after folding;
Figure lB is a plan view c)f a fl~t blank related to the panel hown inFigure 4 marlced for folding;
Fi9ure 18a i6 a plan view of ~nother ~lat blnnk --11~

~ ;~7~ 7 related 'o the panel 6hown in Figure 4 marked for ~olding;
~ igure 18b is the .lower s~de edge view o the panel ~hown in Figure 1~ ~fter f~ldiny;
~ igure 18c i6 the upper ~ide edge view of the panel ~hown in ~igure 18 aft~er folding which corre~ponds to the lowe~ 6ide edge view of the panel ~hown in Figure 18a after folding;
~ igure 18d is the upper 6ide edge view of the pan~l ~hown in figure 18a after folding;
Figure 19 is ~ plan view of a flat blank related tG ~he panel shown in ~igure 12 marked for folding;
Figure l9a i~ a plan view of another blank related to the panel shown in Figure 12 ~arked for folding;
~ igure l9b i& the lower 6ide edge view of the panel ~hown in Figure 19 after folding:
Figure l9c i~ ~he upper ~ide edge view of the panel ~hown in Figure 19 after folding which corre~pond~
to the l~wer ~ide edge view of the panel 6h~wn in Figure l9a after folding;
Figure l9d i~ the upper 6ide edge view of the panel 6hown in ~igure l9a after folding:

~7~ 7 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIM~N~
Referring first to Figure 2, ~n elongated panel 13 i~ shown, the panel having ~n upper ~ace 14, ~nd a l~wer face 15. In thi6 regard, i~ 6hsuld be noted that terms 6uch a6 "lower", "upper", and the like, are u~ed thrsughout thi~ pplication in a relative ~en6e only, as will become apparent~ The panel 13 is formed by folding ~n elongated flat 6heet, with parallel 6ide edges, into a serie6 of converging corrugations, alternating in direc-tion. The corrugations are formed by folding the pair of trian~ular elements 26, about the ridge 24, ~uch tha~
their ape~e~ ~eet at the side ~dge 27a, and then fslding the adjacent pair of triangular elements Z6a, about the ridge 24a, such that their apexe~ meet at the adjacent side edge 27. The ba~es of the conYerging corrugations are defined ~y coplanar folds 20 and 22 which are at an oblique angle to the edge of the panel. Folds 24 and 24a which form the ridges are generally perpendicular to the ide edge, and alternate in direction as most clearly shown in Pigure 2a. Figure 2a al~o demon~trate~ that if the folded ridges 24 ~nd 24a are perpendi~ular, the ~ide edge portions 27 and 27a are at right angle~ to the ridges 24 and 24a and in~loping with respect to the lower face 15 of the panel 6tripO Due to the foregoing construction, either 6ide edge of a panel 13 can ~ate with ~n ~djacent, parallel 6ide edge of another such ~3~7~ -panel 13, ~hen ~ pair of ~dj~cent panels ~re l~ter~lly inclined towa~d one ~nother. Such ~n ~rrangement iB
~hown in Figure 3.
It ~hould be noted tha~ where the panel 13 de~ired i8 of a width greater th~n th~t which ~ight be conveniently folded fro~ avail~ble sheet ~etal coil 6tc>cls, ~uch panel 13 could ~e a6sembled from lengthwi6e 6ection6 of panel 13, Buch as three ~ections joined a~ng broken line~ 33 and 34 in Fi~ure 2. It will be noted in Eiuc~h ~a~;e that the fold6 are 6till arrang~d on lines which define the converging corxugations, although ~uch panel 6ection6 (which may themselve~ also be referred to as panels) themselves would only ~ontain truncated section~
In Figure 3, a number of panel6 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e and 13f are connected together, each of the foregoing panels being of the s~me con~truction a~ panel 13 of Figure 2. Panel6 13b and 13c, are di~posed with their lower faces lS facing upward as viewed in Figure 3.
Adjacent side edges of panel~ 13a and 13b are then overlapping so~ewhat, and are connected together in the ~anner shown. Due to the in~loping side edge portion~
27, 27a of the transver6ely triangular sections as pre-viously described, when panels 13a, 13b and 13c are con-nected together in 6uch an ~rrangement ~ in Figure 3, the ~tructure surface shown curves convexly upward as one ~7317~7 move~ laterally acrGss panelQ 13a to 13c, as viewed in Figure 3. Such a curvature can be continued l~ de~ired.
Alternatively1 the next panel 13d can be ~nverted w~th respect to panels 13a through 13c, that iS disposed with its upper face 14 facing upward as viewed irl Figure 3, and again ad~acent side edges of panels 13c and 13d can be overlapped and connected together due to the symmetry of the cide edges of the panels. With panel 13d inverted, a reversing of the direction of curvature of the structure take~ place~ which is further ~arried on by panels 13e and 13f also diqposed with their upper ~aces 14 facing upward a~ viewed in Figure 3. Thus, as one moves laterally acros~ the panels, ~rom panel 13c to panel 13f, the curYature of the structure surface i~ con-cave upward as viewed in Figure 3.
It should be noted that panels 13a and 13b are laterally inclined to one another, as are panels 13b and 13c, and panels 13d, 13e and 13f, the inclination being judged with reference to the fact that the planes in which folds 20, 22 of the foregoing ~ets of panels lie are inclined toward one another. However, in the case of panels 13c and 13d, such planes are parallel, and there-fore those panels can be considered not to be inclined to one another. As a result, a structure surface which iQ
essentially planar, is formed when panels 13 are alter-natively inverted with respect to each other.

~.~7~7 ~
Ii will be ~ppreci~ted that ~he degree of cur-v~ture can be con~rolled by decreasing the height sf the ~lded tri~ngula~ section~, n~mely decrea~in~ the ver-tical di~tance a~ viewed in ~îgure 2, be~ween the upper-~08t end~ of ridge ~old~ 24, 24a and adjacent ba~e fol~6 20, 22. L~wering ~uch distance ~i.e. lowering the angle6 which the face6 26, 26a make to a plane in which ~old~
20, 22 lie ts ~ake the panel more flat), will decrea~e' the angle of curvature w~ich can be obtained by joining two 6uch panels along their adjace~t edges. However, by lowering ~uch height the load which ~uch panel~ can bear in the lateral direction, al60 tend~ t~ decrea~e. Ihu~, in ca6es where it i~ desired to have a lower angle of deflec~ion, but the angle which face6 26, 26a ~ake to the plane a~ de~cribed, i~ to be maintained constant in order t~ ~aintain ~tructural stren~th of the panel, then the panel can be folded from ~heet ~aterial with parallel ~ide edges ~uch that each iolded triangular ~ection has a plurality of corrugations converging at one 6ide edge.
Such an arrangement is shown in the panel~ of Figure6 5, 5b, B, and 8b.
~ he structure surface ~hown in Figure 3, or similar ~tructure surface~, can be reinforced in a ~anner a6 shown in ~igure 3a. Figure 3a, showfi the six panels of Figure 3, 13a through 13f. In addition, ~ix elongated panel6 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e and 35f, which have '7 eng~hwise ~Y.tending paralle~l, corr~gation~ 36, are con nected to re~pective surf~cel; of panel~ 13a through 13f, by ~e~ns Df welding, ~olting or the like. Thu~, the re~ulting s~ructure will be 'Les~ su~ceptible to collap~e 4B a result of lengthwise fo:lding of panel~ 13e through 13h lengthwi~e, than if such reinf~rcing panel~ 35c through 35h, had not been pr~e~ent. In addition the ~pa-ces between panel~ 13 and the reinforcing panels can ac~
a iniulating dead air ~pace~ in the structure ~urface, or such 6pace~ can be filled with a suitable in6u].ating material if desired.
The panel 42 of Figure 5 i8 6i~ilar in construction to panel 13 of Figure 2~ and analogou~ ele-~ent~ have been numbered identically. Panel 42 i6 form~d by folding laterally converging corrugations on ~n elongated heet ~aterial, with parallel 6ide edge , in si~ r ~anner ~s panel 13 i~ formed. Panel 42, like panel 13, ha6 6et8 of folds 20, 22 defining ~ran6v~rs ly triansular ele~ents therebetween, wi~h adjacent ~uch ele-ment extending in alternate direction~, a~ 6hown in Figure 5. Each triangular element of the panel 4~
though, i6 provided with additional fold6 44, 46, 48, or 44a, 46a, 4Ba which for~ ~wo ridges on the conver~ing corrugation~. Adjacent number~ of panel~ can be con-nected together a1Ong thear edge~ in a si~ilar ~anner a6 panel~ 13, already described. When the upper 6urfaces 14 ~ ~73~7~
~ ~ plur~l~ty of p~n~ls 42 face in the ~me direction, t~len the struc~ure surface will be conc~ve ~oving laterally acros6 such adjacent panel6. In ~ 6i~ilar manner a with panels 13, some panel~ 42 can be anverted with re~pect to other6 ~o ~6 to produce a ~tructure ~ur-face which i8 eonv~x in the ~ame direction. Figure 5 Ehow~ two panels 42a and 42b connected together along their adjacent edges and with their upper ~urface~ 14 facing in the ~ame direction. Each panel 42a, 42b i~ of the ~a~e ~tructi~n as panel 42 in Fig~re 5. Th~
result of the arrange~ent in Figure 5b i~ a ~tructure 6urface which i8 upwardly concave a~ one ~ove~ laterally acro s the two panel 6 shown .
Refer{ing to ~igure 8, ~he panel ~hown therein, i~ 6imiiar in construction to the panel of Fiqure 2, and analogous part~ have again been numbered identically.
However, in Figure 8, the panel 60 therein, i8 viewed toward the lower face 15 thereof. qhe panel 60 i6 folded so that the converging corrugations bounded by each pair of adjacent folds 20, 22 and directed toward the fir~t side edge 16, each contains a plurality of interior fold~
62, 63, 68 ~nd 74, and triangular faces 64, 66 and 70 to form three ridges. The converging corrugations directed or extending in the oppo~ite direction (i.e. ~oward second side edge 18) are congruent with the foregoing csnverging corrugations, with the ~or~er having ~olds 7~ ~7~
~2a, 63a, 6B~ ai~d 74a ~nd tli~ngular face6 ~4a, 66a, ~nd 70a. It will be n~ted fro~ ~igure ~a that fold6 68 ~nd 74, 63 and 22, ~nd 63 and 20, ~re not coplanar, ~lth~ugh they could be.
When two panel~ 6t~ Are ~oined toyether ~long adjacent edges with both of their lower surface~ 15 being oriented upward, the re~ult would be a struc~ure sur~a e which is conYex in the lower gurface direction.
Alternatively, by simply inverting one or ~ore of ~uch panel~ 60, the direction of curvature a~ sne move~
laterally acro6s such connected panel~, can be altered.
H~wever, the panels u6ed in GUCh arrangement, should have fold~ 68 and 74 coplanar, and fold~ 63, 20, 22 coplanar, unlike the fold6 ~f panel 60 of Figure~ 8 and 8b, in order to avoid gap6 w~en joined a~ described. A junction of two 6uch con~ruent panel~ 61a and 61b, each ba~ically the ~ame a~ panel 60 of Figure 8, i6 6hown in Figure 8b.
However, panel6 61a and 61b, have coplanax foldfi 68 and 74 and coplanar fold~ 63, 20 and 22. Again, one panel 61a has it~ lower surface 15 facing in an opposite direc-tion than the upper ~urface 14 of panel 61b, (i.e. th~
panel6 61a and 61b ~re inverted with re6pect to ~ne another~. Such an arrangement by it~elf produce~ a structure ~urface w~ich i~ es~entially planar, which e6fientially planar arrangement could be continued by repeatedly inverting the direction in w~ich the re pec--~19--tave ace~ of a plural ~ y ~ ~uch ndiacent panel~ f~ce.
It ~i~ht ~e noted that in ~oining ~djacent panels of ~
type of panel 61a or 61b, wit~ corre6pon~ing ace~ facing in the same directi~n, the edge~ o ~uch panel6 mUB~ b~
offset in a lenythwi~e direction of the panels, by two fold6, ~i.eO one "cycle"), in ~rder to obtsin rea6~nably good mating of the re~pective ~ide edges of the panels.
Referring now to Fi~ure 6, a panel ætructure i 6hown, which utili~e~ a panel 50, which may be con-veniently referred to a~ fir~t panel 50, along with ~wo reinforcing panelfi 5B. Panel 50 a6 al~o formed by folding an elongated 6heet, 6uch a~ ~heet metal, which has parallel ~ide edge~. Panel SO ha~ two oppo~ed ~ide edges 51, and a fir~t ~et of coplanar, parallel face~ 52 each of parallelogram configuration, and extending bet-ween ~ide edges 51 at an angle of approximately 45 degree~. A 6econd Eet of coplanar, par~llel faces 54 are furth r provided which are parallel and congruent with face~ 52, and which are dispo6ed in alternatin~ rela-tionship therewith, in a plane parallel t~ that in which the fir6t 6et of face6 52 lie. Sloping face6 56, al~o of parallel~gram configuration, extend between each pair of adjacent fa~e~ 52, 54. It will be n~ted that ~loping face~ 56 are alternately oriented 180 degree~ with respect to one another, but are nevertheles~ congruent.
Reinforcing panel6 58, 59 extend parallel with fir6t panel 50, ~nd ha~e re~pecti~e face6 c~ntacting ~nd con-nected t~ respective adjacent face~ of fir~t panel 50~ by ~ean6 o~ welding or the like. Thu~, seinforcing panel 58 will actually cont~ct and be connected to faces 52, while reinforcing panel 59 will actually ¢ont~ct ~nd be c~n-nected to face~ 54. Reinfoxcing panels 58, 59 serve to ~arry at lea~t partially~ longitudinal ten~ion and co~prezsion force~ on the panel ~tructure 50. Such for-ces ~ight otherwize tend t~ cau~e panel 50 to fo]d up or buckl~ ~long face~ 52, 54. In addition, the space~ ~et-ween faee~ 54 and panel 58, and face~ 52 and panel 59, can additionally act as inzulating dead air spaces in a ~tructure ~urface. Further~ore, if desired, 6uch 6pace~
can be filled with a suitable insulatin~ material to increa~e the in~ulating value of the panel structure of ~iguze 6.
Referring ~o Figure 7~ a panel 6tructure i~
6hown which utili~ez two panels 50a, 50b, each of the same con~truction as panel 50, disposed parallel to one ~nother ~d inverted relation~hp, with adjacent con~ected face~. In particular, faces 54 of panel 50a are con-nected by ~eanz of welding or the like, to faces 52 of panel 50b. Thu~, the two panel~ 50a, 50b are oriented ~uch that ~he face~ on panel 50a extend acro~ the panel 6truc~ure of ~igure 7, in a direction oppo6ite to that of the face~ of panel 50b, in partlcular at 90 degree6 with 7~

re~pect th~r~to. Thi~ arr~ngement al~o provide~ space6 ~e~ween pan~ls 5~a ~nd 50~ which can act ~8 insulat$ng sp~ces in a ~imil~r manner ~6 de6cri~ed in connection with the panel ~tructure of ~igure 6. In additisn though, this panel ~tructurle will ~1BO re~ist longitudi-nal compre~ion forces far better than if panel~ 50a and 50b were oriented 50 that their face~ were all parallel.
Further~ore, ccn~truction of 6uch a panel structure i8 convenient, and relatively efficient, ~ince the ~ame panel~ need only be manufactured, with ~me panel~ being inverted with respect to other ~uch panel~ and then con-nected thereto. It will be appreciated that the face6 of panel 50a and 50b could extend at an angle other than 45 degrees to the side edge~ of the re~pective panels.
However, 45 degrees i~ preferred ~o that a given panel obtains maxi~um resistance to both lateral and lo~gitudi-nal compression force~.
Referri~g now to Figure~ 9a and 9b, a panel 81 i~ shown, which has arcuate, generally parallel, first and ~econd side edge~, 82 and 84 re~pectively. Panel again ha~ ~et~ of faces 20 ~nd 6et6 of face6 22 which are arranged on line6 which define converging corruga-tion~ compri6ed ~f congruent folded, tranver~ely triangu-lar ele~ent~, extending laterally across the panel. That i~, the lin~s upon which face6 20, 22 lie, inter~ect to define ~uch complete triangular rection~, although panel ~ .~73~
Bl itfielf cont~in~ only truncated ele~ent6. In the ca~e of panel 81 ~hough, these e!lement~ ~re ~11 r~diAlly aligned ~i.e. directed ~oward ~ common centër of n circle defined by panel B13. Panel 81 further has face6 90, 92, and sloping face6 94, 96 which form converging corruga-tion6. The fir6t ~ide edge 82 ha~ ~ greater radiu~ of curvature than 6econd 6ide edge 840 Face~ 90, 92 have respective second linear portion~ 91, 93, which exten~
downward at an angle to the remainder of ~he respectiYe faces, such that a second ~ide edge portion ~Ob of the corrugation con~aining each face 90, i~ lower than the opposi~e first side edge portion 90a, while a fir~t ~ide edge portion 92a of each face 92 i~ lower than the oppo-~ite ~econd ~ide edge portion 92b. Thu~, fir t 6ide edge portion6 92a of a first set of alternate truncated ele~ent~ are lower than respective oppo~ite second side edge portion~ 92b, while Recond ~ide edge portion~ 90b of a ~econd ~et of alternate truncated element~, are lower than re~pective opposite first ~ide edge portions 90a.
Further~ore, although linear portion6 gl, 93 e~tend down-ward at approximately the same ~ngle, portions 91 are longer than portion6 93. Thi~ ~eans that ~econd ~ide edge portion~ 90b of the truncated element~ of the 6econd ~et ~tho~e containing face~ 90~, are lower than fir6t ~ide edge portion~ 92a of the truncated ele~ent6 of the fir6t ~e~ ~tho~e containing faces 92).

: ~ ~73~7~
~ n~ls Bl c~n be prod~ced from ~n Plongated sheet with parallel side edges~ ~uch B~ sheet met~l coil 6tock. ~igure 9 ~hows panPl ~1 marked beforé folding, which iB ~i~ilar in shape t~ the ~iddle strip 121 ~f panel 120 ~hown in Figure 12, ~nd indicates how ~uch ~n elongated ~heet i6 for~ed into a panel 81. Thi~ i accomplifihed by cutting,out dart~ 86, 88, from the sheet a6 ill~6trated, the dart~ 86, 8B, being of equal ~ngle', - but dart~ 88 being greater in len~th ~thereby having ~
wider ba6e or greater ~axi~um width). The sheet i5 then folded into the shape of the final panel 81, with face p~rtion6 9l ~nd 93 being be~t downward to contact ~dge portion~ 97 and 95 respectively, and welded thereto.
Alternatively, the foregoing darts could be folded on the 6hee~ while ~haping. Since the dart6 88 cut out o~ the panel have a wider b2se than dart6 86~ ~econd side edge 84 will have a lower radiu~ of curvature than fir~t side edge 82. It should be noted at this p~int, that the ~rcua~e 6hape of the folded panel 81 i~ a re~ult of the 6hortening of the second side edge with re~pect to the first 6ide ed~e, and can also be accompli6hed by forming dart~ 8B only on the 6econd ~ide edge and eli~inating dart6 86 on the fir~t ~ide edge. qhi~ ~ethod i6 6hown by panel ~trip 81a of Figure 9c, which when folded will give the same ~ppearance a~ folded ~rip Bl shown in Fagure 9a. Panel 81 i~ particularly useful for cvn6~ructing dome type qtrl~CtUreB in a ~anner simil~r to that described below in connection with panels 99, one of which i6 ~hown in Figure 10.
R~ferring now tv Figure 10, ~nother panel 99 i6 shown, which i~ ~imilar to the ~iddle 6trip of panel 13 shown in Figure 2, and include~ a fir~t ~ide edge 98 and ~ econd 6ide edge 9Ba. Panel 99 i~ Pimilar in construc-tion to panel 81, e~cept that the "face6" o~ panel 99 are ingle fold~ (i.e. appear a6 lines in the Figure~).
Again, se~ of fold~ 20, 22 are provided, which lie on lines which ~gain converge to define, radially aligned, tran6ver6ely triangular element~ which ~re all "darected toward" ~econd:~ide edge 98a lthat i~ fold6 20, 22 defining the truncated elements converge in the direction of ~econd side edge 98a~. A~ in the ca~e of panel 81 of Figure 9b, panel 99 actually ha~ only truncated elements on it. Both side edge~ 98, 98a are curved, with fir6t 6ide edge 98 having a greater radiu~ of curvature.
Alternate, laterally ~on~erging corrugations include respective folds 100, 106. Each fold 100 ha~ a fir~t linear portion 102, and a ~econd linear portion 104 extending downward at an angle to portion 102 ~i.e.
toward fold~ 20, ~2) such that a ~econd side edge portion 105 of the element containing each fold 100, i~ lower than ~he opp~ite fir~t 6ide edge p~rtion 101 of the ~a~e element. Thu6, it can be ~aid that fir6t side edge por-~ 73~t77 tion~ lQ7 ~f ~ fir6t ~et ~f ~l~ern~e trun^~ted ele~ent~containing fold~ 1~6, nre l~wer than respective ~ppvsite second 6ide edge portion~ 109~ Likewi~e, second 6ide edse portion6 105 ~f a second ~et of trunc~ted ele~en~
c~ntaining fold6 100, are lower in h~iyht th~n respec~iYe oppo~ite ~ir~t side edge portions 101. ~urther~ore~ the sec~nd side edge p~rti4n6 105 of the truncated elements ~f the second set (i.e. tho~e element~ containing folds 102), are lower than the ir6t ~ide edge portion~ 107 of the elements directed toward the~ (i.e. ~hose ele~ent~
containing folds 106).
Panel 99 can be ~ormed in a ~anner ~i~ilar to panel 81 of Figure 9b, that i by folding or cutting appropriate darts on one or both o~ the side edges of an elongated sheet having par~llel ~ide edge~, at po5iti9n6 thereon at which ~old portion~ 104 and 108 will be for~ed. When darts are formed on b~th side edges, the dart~ at which portions 104 are for~ed, will of cour~e be longer than tho6e at which portions 108 are formed. m e sheet is then ~haped to form fold~ 20, 22, 100, 106, with portions 104, 108 being for~ed by joining edge portion of corre~p~nding ~aces where the dart~ are located.
Thus, panel 99 i ba~ically for~ed in the ~ame ~anner a~
panel 81 except that the parallelogra~ ~haped face por-tions of panel 81 are replaced by folds which appear as line~.

7~3~
Figure l~a il,~fitrnte~ con~truction of a dome utili~ing ~ plurality o~ pAnels 99a, 99b, g9c, each c4n~tructed in the ~anner of p~nel 99 in ~igure 10. In each sa~e, second ~ide edge 98a of each of a plurality of panel~ 99a, 9gb ~only a p~rtion of the length of each of ~uch panel~ being ~hown in Figure lOa ~o a~ to reveal the underlying 6tructure~ mated with, and oonnected ts, a fir6t side edge 98 of re~pective adjacent panel~ 99b, 99C. ThUB, panel 99b i~ inclined downward a~ viewed in Figure lOa, with ref:pect to panel 99a. LikewiEie, panel g9C is inclined downward with re~pec~ to panel 99b. Of course, it will be appreciated that a6 one ~ve6 up the dome-~haped ~truc~ure ~urface ~hown in Figure lOa, panel mu~t be utilized which have a fir6t ~ide edge 98 with a radiu~ vf curvature and other dimen~ions approxi~ately the ~ame a6 the second side edge 98a of the next lower panel. However, a6 the dome will usually be relatively large in dia~eter, this allows a large number ~f iden-tical panel~ to be produced for each annular layer of panel~ 99a r 99b, 99c, and other 6uch layer 6 .
In the 6tructure of Figure lOa, reinforcing panels 112 are al~o provided, which again can be ~anufac-t~red fro~ 6heet metal coil 6tock, but with corrugations which e~tend in a ~irection lengthwi~e thereon. Panel~
112 have ~urface~ which are connected to adjacent 6~r-face6 of panels 99a, 99b, 9gc. Such an arrangement rein 7~ 77 forces the ~t~ucture ~urf~ce ~gain6t ten~ion ~nd c~mpres~ion force6 whieh ~ t otherwi~e tend t~ warp panels 99a, g9b, 99c, i~ reinforcing panel6 112 were not provided.
In con~tructing a dome ~tructure such a~ th~t in Fi~ure lOa, it i~ po~sibl.e to utili~e a method 6uch a6 that 6chematically illu~trat.ed in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the dome 6tructure 6urface i8 labelled 2. Such ~truc-ture surface 2 i8 mounted upon support~ q, which are capable of rai~ing the ~tructure up a~ desired. Two truck~ 6, 10 can be provided contain ~upplies of sheet metal coil ~tock, a~ well a6 equip~ent for ~olding the 6ame. Such equipment feeds out elongated panel6 8 with tran~ver~e con~erging corrugation~ thereupon, and elongated panel6 12 with face~ extending in a direetion lengthwise thereupon. Panelæ 8 ~an be arranged to overlie, and be connected to adjacent corresponding panel6 12. As each annular layer i~ added on, an upper ide edge of the newly added, lower panel ~r panel struc-ture, is connected by ~uitable ~eans cuch as welding, bolting, or the like, to a mating ~ide edge of ~n upper adjacent panel. The 6tructure i~ then rai~ed, and the foregoing proce~s repeate~ for a new annular layer.
It will be appreciated that a6 part of a struc-ture under load the various panel6 will be 6ubjected to bending ~Gment6 resulting in high 8tre6~e8 in the ele--~8-ments farthe~t from the central plane Or the panel strip.
For panel 13 shown in Figure 2 the Stre~Qe~ would be maxlmum in the fold~ 20, 229 24 and ~4a, and for panel 99 shown ln Figure 10 the stresses would be maximum in folds 20, 22, 100 and 106. It is Or considerable benefit if the cros~-sectional area of theqe folded sec- -tions can be widened by the introduction of planar ele ments~ which in turn will reduce the unit stresseA
imposed by the load. One such arrangement is shown in a panel 40 of Figure 4. Panel 40 is similar in construc-tisn to panel 13 of Figure 2, and again analogous parts have been numbered identically. However, in panel 40, folds 20 and 22 are replaced by a quadrilateral planar element 9 while folds 24 and 24a are replaced by a triangular planar element. As well edge portions 23 at the intersection of faces 20, 22 will have a slight upward turn as a result of the folding operation.
However, Quch will not interfere with the connection of like panels, and in fact assi~t such connection. With this configuration, it should be noted that the maximum width of faces 24 must be approximately equal to the sum of the widths of faces 20, 22 in order to ensure a reaso-nably good mating of ad~acent edges of two panels with side Qurfaces facing in opposite directions. In addi-tion, the maximum strength of such a panel 40 is obtained when the width of faces 24 one half way along their 7~7 ~ath, is Approxim~tely equal to the width of each face ~0, 22.
Referring now to panel 110 shown in Figure 11 the confiyuration of the fold6 i~ ri~ilar to that of panel 40 of Figure 4 and amalogoufi parts have been nu~-bered identi~ally. However panel 110 has been ~tiffened by the patterns i~pres ed on the ~urface~ of the element~
co~pri6ing the panel ~trip. It 6hould be noted that rai6ed portion~ 112 of panel 110 are particularly impor tant in maintaining the ~ide edges of panel 110 rigid, 80 that when two 6uch panel6 are interconnected, le~s point~
of attach~ent will be required to ~aintain a ~ood connec-tion than if equivalent ~i~ed panel~ 40 were u~edr Another ~ethod of stiffening the ~ide edge is to double the sheet thicknes~ by rolling edge strips on the sheet before ~haping. The rolled edge will al~o facilitate handling and ~trengthen~ connection6 of the panel ~trip~.
A portion of other possible panel~ is shown in Figure~ 12 and 13. Again the~e panels are Gf the same basic pattern, namely a panel 6trip compri~ed of tranver-~ely folded converging corrugations ~lternating in direc-tion. Panel 120 of Figure 12 demonstrates a configuration where the fold~ 24 and 24a of Figure 2 ha~e been replaced by rectangular planar 6urface6 124, 124a ~hu~ increa6ing the 102d hearing capacity of the panel 6trip. Figure 12a 6how6 h~w the planar ~urface6 124, ~30-. ~ ~7~3~7t~
124a add s~ren~th by increasing the width of the elements farthest from the central plane. This configuration i~
of particular benefit where bending moments are uni-directional sueh as arched ~tructures. Panel 130 of Figure 13 shows a panel where the converging corrugatiDns are formed by a multiplicity of folds into curved shapes.
The curved configuration, reduces the high stres~ con-centrations ~ometimes encountered in sharp folds, and gives a somewhat different architectural appearance.
Figure 13a is a view showing the edge of the panel and the curved shape of the corrugations. A ~ection through the middle of the panel strip would be ~imilar in shape, but the amplitude of the curves would be reduced. Panel~
120 and 130 are qimilar to panel 13 of Figure 2 in that identically shaped panels can be conneeted at their side edges in the inverted or normal positions, they can be reinforced by longitudinally folded panels, and can be stiffened by impressing patterns on their surfaces. In addition, where the width of available coil material is not ~ufficient, the panel strip can be comprised of more than one segment as demon~trated by middle ~trip 121 and side strips 122 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 ~hows a segment 14~ of a dome whoQe panels are ~haped similarly to those Or Figure 9. In Figure 14, however, converging corrugations 14B, whose ridges are comprised of parallel folds, alternate with - ~ ~ 73 ~77 rapidly converging corrugations 148a that have one edge shortened by darts 149 exten~d~ng acr~ss the width o~ the ~anel strlp. When folded all OI the corrugat~ons are radially aligned c~nverging toward3 the centre of the dome. Thr~e folded panel ~trip~ 141, 142, 143 who~e length between corrugations 148 increases with the distance from the centre point of the dome are shown ~oined together to form Qegment 140. The three folded panel ~trips comprising egment 140 are shown before ~olding as panel strips 141a, 1112a, 143a. Cro~s sections 141b, 142b, 143b Qhow the folded lower edge Or the respec~iYe stripq, which are identical to the upper edge of th~ adjacent panel strip. Cro~s section 141c ~hows the folded upper ed~e of panel 141.
Continuous reinforcing Qtrips 147 are provided at each circumferential joint for attachment of the external and internal panel ~trip~. The3e reinforcing strips are ~ized to withstand the te~sile forces which occur when the dome i~ under load and to provide separa tion lf desired between internal and external panel ~trips. It can be seen that by varying the dimensions of the panel stripq many geometrically shaped structures including spherolds, ellipsoids, paraboloids and hyper-boloids can be simply constructed by joining continuous folded panel strips formed on site.
Figure 15 ~how~ a ~egment 150 of another dome i) 3 1 ~ 7 whoqe pan~l 3tripq are shaped si~ilarly to Figure 9. In Figure 15, hcwever~ converging corrugation~ 156, who~e rldge~ 157 and valleys 158 are comprised of parallel or gradually convergin~ fold~, are ~ituated at an obl~que angle to the side edee of the panel Qtrip. P~nel ~trip 151 is ~oined face to face with an identical panel ~trip 151a, turned end for end 30 that the ridges 157a Qlope in the opposite direction. Panel strips 151 and 151a are ~oined at their upper side edges to the identically shaped l~wer side edge of panel strips 152 and 152a. The converging corrugations of panel strips 152 and 152a are o~ lesser proportion~ than the convergin~ corrugation~ of - panel ~trip~ 1~1 and 151a~ and the oblique angle is greater.

The~e factors le~d to the convergence of the ~eBment 150 required to give the dome ~hape. The ridges 157 of the converg~ng corrugations 156 ~orm 2 serie~ of spirals which approach a radial alignment as they near the center Or the dome. On the other hand the valleys 158 between the converging corrugations 156 form a solid triangular matrix when pairs of identical panel strips are ~oined face to ~ace, and then joined to ad~oinine pairs of a panel strips as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15a shows the panel strip 151 before folding with the fold lines of the ridges 157 ~nd the valleys 158 of the converging corrugation marked thereon.
The location of the darts 159 is al~o shown, which tra-17~

ver~e the rull wldth of the panel strip. The dart3 159 are most conventiently placed close to r~ght-angle3 with respec~ to ~he ,~ide edge of the panel strip, 90 that after foldlng there will be no ~ignificant mi~alignment of the side edge. In making the folds for the darts 159, fold 159a is made in one direction and fold 159b is made in the other direction ~o that when the fold~ are pressed flat, fold 159a correspond~ with line 159c. Where the dart~ traver~e thc rull width Or the panel .~trips 140 ~nd 150 in Fi~ures 14 and 15 it is more efficient to make them by folding rather than eutting, as it avoids problems o~ alignment and reconnection.
Figure 16 ~hows panel ~trip 160 marked with lines prior to forming, ~imilar to those required for panel strip 13 ~hown in Figure , however, the length of the upper ~ide i~ to be reduced by the amount of the darts 169. The darts 169 are formed similarly to darts 159 o~ Figure 15, where fold 169a i~ made in one direc~

tion, fold 169b is made in the other direction so that fold 169a eorresponds with line 169c. Figure 16a ~ho~s the adjacent panel strip 161 whose lower edge corresponds in length to the ~hortened upper edge of panel ~trip l60.

The upper edge of panel strip 161 when folded along the marking~ will be ~hortened by the width of darts 168.

Figure~ 16b and 16c are respectively the lower and upper side edge views of the panel ~trip 160 when folded into ~ .~7;31~7 converg~n~ ~orrugations and Fi~ures 16c and 16d are respect1vely the lower and upper side ed~e of the panel ~tr~p 161 when folded into converging corrugatlonQ. It should be noted the amplitude of the side edge ~rruga-tions sh~wn ln Figllre 16c i3 reduced in compari~on to the side edge corrugation~ shown in Figure 16b and, al~o the amplitude of the corrugations shown in Figure 16d is reduced in eompari30n to the amplitude shown in Figure 16c. The changes in the amplitude of the folded panel strip is controlled by the width of the darts 168, 169 and are c~lculated in geometric progreRsion to produce the type of spherical structure desired.

The parent of panel ~trip 170 shown in Figure 17 iQ panel strip 42 shown in Figure 5, except the upper side edge of panel strip 170 will be shortened by the width of the dartQ 179. Panel strip 170 differs from panel strip 160 of Figure 16 in that the alternating con-verging corrugation is comprised of two additional folds forming another element. This element can be reduced in one or more stages (two stages are shown in Figure~ 17~ so that the side edge returns to its original shape as shown in Fi~ures 17b and 17d, indicating the darts have shor-tened the length of the section by one half. The advan~
tage of this method of folding the converging corrugations is that it simplifies the forming operation and the amplitude of the corrugations can remain the same over the whole structure. It should be noted that panel strip 60 shown in Figure 8 wh,ere the alternatlng con-~erging corrugation ls compri~ed sf two more additional folds ean be shortened similarly to panel strip 170.
Panel trip 180 shown in Figure 18 i3 a modifi-cation of panel ~trip 40 of Figure 4 and will have the upper edge foreshortened by darts 189 after folding.
Thiq panel l~ suitable to form a qpherical shape when joined to the adjacent panel strip 181 at their mating side edge shown in Figure 18c. In this example the pla-nar element 182 forming the ridge of the converging corrugation is reduced in width while maintainin8 the amplitude of the corrugations. As the panel strips con-verge toward khe centre of the dome the valleys 183 ~et-ween the corrugations may next be reduced in width, and after that subsequent panel strips will have the triangu-lar sloping qides 184 of the corrugations reduced, which will reduce the amplitude. Because of the variety of alternatives available to foreshorten one side edge of the panel strip, this style of folding offers con-siderable versatility in the design of the spherical structures.
Panel strip 190 shown in Fieure 19 and panel Rtrip 191 shown in Figure 19a demonstrate how panel strip 120 of Figure 12 can be modified to form spherical struc-tures. In panel ~trips 190, 191 the dimensions of the converging corrugations are all reduced in the same ratio 7~ ~7 by darts 199, 19~ as they approach the centre of the dome .3tructure. The viewq of the ~de edges sho~n in Figures 19b, 19c, 19d ~ow how thiq reduct~on can easlly be made to ~uit any predetermined geometric progre~on. Because of the ~impllcity Gf theYe panel ~trip~lmanufacture and erection eo3ts will be les~ than with other styles, and the planar ridge deqign will give high strength values, ~he machine~ used tc manufacture the-panel~ ~enerally emplDy known methods of sheet metal formin~. ~ecause the Eheet metal is c~ntinouf:, foldin,e: by roll fo~ in,~
certain sections, în particular trian~ular s~,apes, can result in di~tortion and rupture of the panel strip~.
For thi6 rea~on a sequential method of manufacture may be required to manufacture most of the panels. While the seguential method will result in slower production rates.
the equipment is expected to be li~hter and more easily transp~rted. Possible exceptions to this manufacturing method are the panels comprised of transversely folded parallel corru~ations, shown in Figures 6 and 7, and the spherical shape shown in Figure 14. The parallel faces comprisin~ these corrugated sections are not expected to distort ~urin~ roll forming as the axis of the incomin~
sheet metal would not be required to chan~e direction as with the triar~ular folds. In roll forming the ~i~ure 14 panel Etrip the trian~ular convergence of certain corru-~ations would be compensated for by the curved hape of the finished product exitin~ from the rolls.

'tructure~. formed from continous panel strips ~.~7~L7~
have many advantages over other styles ~f construction.

They can be manufactured in :Long ~ections either on or ~ff site reducing th~ ~st ~'~ tra~p~rtation. There ar~
many styles aYallable offerllng a w~de variety of s~ruc-tures which can be built. The rlexibility o~ the con-verging corrugations give~ a good ran~e of architectural surfaee treatment~ on the interior and exterior panel of the buildings. The material compri~ing the panel ~trips can be ~elected to withstand the climatic a~d environmen-tal conditionc of a partieular ~ite. The length Or ~oints and the number of pieces is reduced over other style3 of metal buildings, lessening construction time.
Joints overlap and are laid to ~eather preventing leakage.
Structures can be con~tructed of two or more layers giving a dead air space which can be filled with insula-tion as required. Buildings made from continuous panel strips are generally lighter than other types of construction, and can ea3ily be di~mantled and relocated.

The lighter unit weight of the bulldings also reduces the dead loads which, comblned with longitudinal segmentation o~ the panel ~trip~, permits very lar~e bui~dlng~ to be constructed by this method.
A3 will be apparent t~ tho e qkilled in the art in light Or the foregolng disclo~ure, ~any alteratlon~
and modification~ are poQs1ble in the pr~cti~e of this invention without departlng from the ~plrit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the 3cope Or the inventlon is to be con~trued in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

-3a

Claims (18)

I CLAIM:

1. An integral, elongated panel strip comprising generally parallel sides and transversely folded converging corrugations alternately extending across the panel in opposite directions, each corrugation having at least one quadrilateral planar ridge and two sloping triangular faces, and insloping side edges, each side edge of a panel strip being identically shaped such that either side edge can mate congruently with either side edges of a corresponding panel strip.

2. A panel strip as defined in claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing panel strip having a plurality of longitudinally folded parallel corrugations, each having two rectangular faces wherein a surface of aid first panel strip is connected to a respective sur-face of the reinforcing panel strip.

3. A panel strip as defined in claim 2 wherein said rectangular faces are separated by a planar element.

4. A method of constructing a structure sur-face comprising the steps of:
supplying continuous sheet metal from a coil stock having parallel side edges;
transversely folding said sheet metal to pro-duce a panel strip having identically shaped side edges defining converging corrugations extending across the panel in alternating directions, each corrugation having at least one quadrilateral planar ridge and two sloping triangular faces;
positioning the panel strips with rating side edges parallel and adjacent one another; and joining adjacent mating side edges of the panels.

S. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein an adjacent panel strip is inverted before being joined to a first panel strip.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising the steps of forming a plurality of rein-forcing panel strips from sheet metal coil stock by longitudinally folding said sheet to form a plurality of parallel corrugations having rectangular faces:
positioning said reinforcing panel strips parallel with said first panel strips with surfaces of said first panel strip adjacent to a respective surface of the reinforcing panel strip; and connecting such adjacent surfaces.

7. A method of forming a panel described in claim 1, comprising folding an elongated flat sheet having parallel side edges to produce converging corruga-tions, which method may include the following steps:
decoiling the flat sheet from a coil of sheet metal;

stiffening and strengthening the side edges of the sheet by rolling and folding over a margin of the side edge strips to form a double thickness punching holes in the side edge margins of the flat sheet:
stamping and pressing indentations in the elongated flat sheet to strengthen elements and locate fold lines;
folding and cinching the flat sheet into con-verging corrugations;
moving and aligning the sheet through the pre-ceding steps;
cutting the elongated panel strip to the desired length.

8 . An integral elongated spherically curved panel strip comprising generally parallel sides and transversely folded converging corrugations extending across the panel in opposite directions, each corrugation having at least two sloping planar triangular segments which converge toward their apexes, selected corrugations having their size reduced by transversely folded triangular darts extending across the panel so as to shorten one side edge of the panel strip, such that each side edge can mate congruently with a side edge of a suitably dimensioned, similarly shaped panel strip to form a structural surface curved in two planes.

9 . A panel strip as defined in claim 8 wherein the planar triangular segments are joined to a common parallel sided planar ridge.

10. A curved panel strip as described in claim 9 in which one side edge is so shortened by transversly folded darts that congruent corrugations converge on a radial alignment.

11. A curved panel strip as described in claim 10 wherein the converging corrugations are at an oblique angle with respect to the radial alignment.

12. A panel strip as described in claim 11 wherein the converging corrugations are at a suitable oblique angle to mate with and reinforce other panel strips.

13 . A panel strip as defined in claim 12 further comprising a curved reinforcing panel strip having a plurality of longitudinally folded parallel corrugations ,each having two rectangular faces wherein a surface of said first panel strip is connected to a respective surface of the reinforcing panel strip.

14 . A panel strip as defined in claim 13 wherein said rectangular faces are separated by d planar element.

15 . A method of constructing a structure surface comprising the steps of :

supplying continuous sheet metal from a coil stock having parallel side edges;
transversely folding said sheet metal to form converging corrugations extending across the panel in opposite directions, each corrugation being comprised of at least two sloping planar faces;
reducing the size of selected corrugations by forming transversly folded darts extending across the panel so as to shorten one side edge of the panel strip;
positioning similarly shaped panel strips with mating side edges parallel and adjacent to one another;and joining adjacent mating side edges of the panels.

16 . A method as defined in claim 15 further compris1ng the step of transversly folding darts into said sheet metal to form a laterally curved sheet with one shortened side edge.

17 . A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:
forming a plurality of curved reinforcing panel strips from sheet metal coil stock by longitudinally folding said sheet to form a plurality of parallel corrugations having rectangular faces;
positioning said reinforcing panel strips parallel with said first panel strips with surfaces of said first panel strip adjacent to a respective surface of the reinforcing panel strip; and connecting such adjacent surfaces.

18 . A method of forming a panel described in claim 8 , comprising the steps of:
decoiling a flat sheet from a coil of sheet metal having parallel side edges;
stiffening and strengthening the side edges of the sheet by rolling and folding over a margin of each side edge to form a double thickness, folding and flattening transverse darts across the flat sheet to form generally curved side edges;
punching holes in the side edge margins of the flat sheet, stamping and pressing indentations in the flat sheet to strengthen elements and locate fold lines;
folding and cinching the flat sheet into converging corrugations;
moving and aligning the sheet through the preceding steps;and cutting the elongated panel strip to the desired length.