Reciprocal structure
The reciprocal structure addresses the challenge of forming hyperbolic surfaces by employing specific member configurations and elastic deformations in reciprocal units, enabling versatile architectural designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OHBAYASHI GUMI LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Conventional reciprocal structures are difficult to form shapes with negative Gaussian curvature, such as a hyperboloid, due to the directionality of load application on their members.
A reciprocal structure composed of reciprocal units with specific member configurations and elastic deformations, allowing for the formation of a hyperbolic surface by combining multiple units into a constricted columnar shape.
Enables easy construction of structures that follow a hyperbolic surface by integrating multiple reciprocal units, facilitating various architectural forms.
Smart Images
Figure 2026082148000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a reciprocal structure formed by combining a plurality of reciprocal units.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, as a structure constituting columns, roofs, walls, etc. of a building, a structure formed by combining a plurality of reciprocal units into a reciprocal structure is known.
[0003] For example, Non-Patent Document 1 describes a reciprocal structure formed in a columnar shape by combining a plurality of minimum unit reciprocal units in which one end of three lumber is held by the middle part of another lumber.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Non-Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the above conventional reciprocal structure, since the reciprocal units constituting it have a structure in which loads in the same direction are applied to one end or the other end of a plurality of members, it is possible to combine a plurality of reciprocal units to form a structure in the shape of a dome or an arch, but it is difficult to form a structure in the shape of a hyperboloid (a surface with negative Gaussian curvature). There was such a problem.
[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its objective is to provide a reciprocal structure that can be easily constructed into a shape that follows a hyperbolic surface by combining a plurality of reciprocal units. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The reciprocal structure of the present invention is a reciprocal structure composed of a plurality of reciprocal units, wherein each of the reciprocal units comprises a first member, a second member whose one end overlaps the one end of the first member from one side in the overlapping direction, a third member whose intermediate portion overlaps the intermediate portion of the first member from the other side in the overlapping direction, and a fourth member whose one end overlaps the one end of the third member from the other side in the overlapping direction, and whose intermediate portion overlaps the intermediate portion of the second member from one side in the overlapping direction, wherein the first member and the fourth member are elastically deformed such that their other end is located on the other side in the overlapping direction more than their one end, and the second member and the third member are elastically deformed such that their other end is located on one side in the overlapping direction more than their one end.
[0008] The reciprocal structure of the present invention comprises, in the above configuration, a first reciprocal unit, a second reciprocal unit in which the first member, second member, third member, and fourth member are arranged symmetrically with respect to the first reciprocal unit and is positioned adjacent to the right side of the first reciprocal unit, a third reciprocal unit in which the first member, second member, third member, and fourth member are arranged symmetrically with respect to the first reciprocal unit and is positioned adjacent to the lower side of the first reciprocal unit, and a third reciprocal unit in which the first member, second member, third member, and fourth member are arranged symmetrically with respect to the second reciprocal unit and is positioned adjacent to the lower side of the second reciprocal unit Preferably, the reciprocal unit comprises four reciprocal units, wherein the fourth member of the first reciprocal unit and the fourth member of the second reciprocal unit are integrally connected, the fourth member of the third reciprocal unit and the fourth member of the fourth reciprocal unit are integrally connected, the third member of the first reciprocal unit and the third member of the third reciprocal unit are integrally connected, and the third member of the second reciprocal unit and the third member of the fourth reciprocal unit are integrally connected to form a sub-reciprocal unit, and a plurality of the sub-reciprocal units are combined in the circumferential and vertical directions around the axis to form a constricted columnar shape.
[0009] In the reciprocal structure of the present invention, it is preferable that the other end of the second member of the uppermost first reciprocal unit and the other end of the second member of the uppermost second reciprocal unit are each supported by an annular first support, and the other end of the second member of the lowermost third reciprocal unit and the other end of the second member of the lowermost fourth reciprocal unit are each supported by an annular second support. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a reciprocal structure that can be easily constructed into a shape that follows a hyperbolic surface by combining multiple reciprocal units. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a reciprocal structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a plan view of the reciprocal structure shown. [Figure 3] Figures 1 and 2 are front views of the reciprocal unit. [Figure 4] Figures 1 and 2 show the subreciprocal unit, with (a) being a front view and (b) being a side view. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the direction of the forces acting on a reciprocal unit. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of a reciprocal structure according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of a reciprocal structure according to yet another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] The following describes in detail an example of a reciprocal structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.
[0013] The reciprocal structure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a columnar structure provided between the floor 3 and ceiling 4 of the building 2, separate from the building's structural frame. The overall shape of this reciprocal structure 1 is modeled after a hyperboloid (a surface with negative Gaussian curvature). More specifically, the reciprocal structure 1 has a roughly circular cross-section centered on axis O, and is columnar in shape, tapering from the upper and lower ends towards the center in the vertical direction.
[0014] The reciprocal structure 1 is composed of a combination of multiple reciprocal units 10. In this embodiment, a sub-reciprocal unit 20 is composed of four types of reciprocal units 10, namely a first reciprocal unit 11, a second reciprocal unit 12, a third reciprocal unit 13, and a fourth reciprocal unit 14. The reciprocal structure 1 is composed of a combination of multiple sub-reciprocal units 20 in the circumferential and vertical directions around the axis O. In Figure 1, for convenience, only the sub-reciprocal unit 20 enclosed by a dashed line and the reciprocal units 10 constituting said sub-reciprocal unit 20 (the first reciprocal unit 11, the second reciprocal unit 12, the third reciprocal unit 13, and the fourth reciprocal unit 14) are labeled with reference numerals. In Figure 2, only the sub-reciprocal unit 20 corresponding to Figure 1 and the reciprocal units 10 constituting it (the first reciprocal unit 11 and the second reciprocal unit 12) are labeled with reference numerals.
[0015] As illustrated in Figure 3 for the first reciprocal unit 11, the reciprocal unit 10 has a first member 10a, a second member 10b, a third member 10c, and a fourth member 10d. The first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d each have an elongated shape, such as a rod or a long plate, and can be elastically deformed in the bending direction. In this embodiment, the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d are each wooden rods with a circular cross-section. However, the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d are not limited to wooden rods with a circular cross-section; they may be made of other materials and have other shapes as long as they are elastically deformable elongated shapes, such as long, flat lumber.
[0016] The first member 10a is positioned to extend along the circumferential direction centered on axis O. The second member 10b is positioned to extend vertically, with one end (the lower end in Figure 3) overlapping one end (the right end in Figure 2) of the first member 10a from one side in the overlapping direction. The third member 10c is positioned to extend vertically to the left and below the second member 10b in Figure 2, with its middle portion overlapping the middle portion of the first member 10a from the other side in the overlapping direction. The fourth member 10d is positioned to extend along the circumferential direction centered on axis O to the upper and right of the first member 10a, with one end (the left end in Figure 2) overlapping one end (the upper end in Figure 2) of the third member 10c from the other side in the overlapping direction, and its middle portion overlapping the middle portion of the second member 10b from one side in the overlapping direction. In this embodiment, the "overlapping direction" is the direction along the radial direction centered on axis O. Furthermore, "one end side" is the one end and a predetermined range from one end to the other end, "other end side" is the other end and a predetermined range from the other end to one end, and "intermediate portion" is the portion between "one end side" and "other end side".
[0017] The portions of the first member 10a, second member 10b, third member 10c, and fourth member 10d that overlap with other members are preferably configured such that, as described later, when forces are applied to the first member 10a, second member 10b, third member 10c, and fourth member 10d, the reciprocal unit 10 is maintained in the shape shown in Figure 3 by the frictional force generated between them. However, they may also be joined together using, for example, pins, nails, dowels, or adhesive. Alternatively, the portions of the first member 10a, second member 10b, third member 10c, and fourth member 10d that overlap with other members may be configured such that a part of one member fits into a groove provided in the other member.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the second reciprocating unit 12, the third reciprocating unit 13, and the fourth reciprocating unit 14 that constitute the sub-reciprocating unit 20 together with the first reciprocating unit 11 are also configured to have the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d, similar to the first reciprocating unit 11. More specifically, the second reciprocating unit 12 arranged adjacent to the right side of the first reciprocating unit 11 has a configuration in which the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d are arranged symmetrically with respect to the left and right of the first reciprocating unit 11. Further, the third reciprocating unit 13 arranged adjacent to the lower side of the first reciprocating unit 11 has a configuration in which the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d are arranged symmetrically with respect to the up and down of the first reciprocating unit 11. Furthermore, the fourth reciprocating unit 14 arranged adjacent to the lower side of the second reciprocating unit 12 has a configuration in which the first member 10a, the second member 10b, the third member 10c, and the fourth member 10d are arranged symmetrically with respect to the up and down of the second reciprocating unit 12.
[0019] In the present embodiment, in the sub-reciprocating unit 20, the fourth member 10d of the first reciprocating unit 11 and the fourth member 10d of the second reciprocating unit 12 are integrally connected to form one member, the fourth member 10d of the third reciprocating unit 13 and the fourth member 10d of the fourth reciprocating unit 14 are integrally connected to form one member, the third member 10c of the first reciprocating unit 11 and the third member 10c of the third reciprocating unit 13 are integrally connected to form one member, and the third member 10c of the second reciprocating unit 12 and the third member 10c of the fourth reciprocating unit 14 are integrally connected to form one member.
[0020] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the sub-reciprocal units 20 adjacent to each other on the left and right are connected to each other such that the first members 10a of the first reciprocal unit 11 and the third reciprocal unit 13 are integrally connected to the first members 10a of the second reciprocal unit 12 and the fourth reciprocal unit 14 to form one member. The sub-reciprocal units 20 adjacent to each other vertically are connected to each other such that the second members 10b of the first reciprocal unit 11 and the second reciprocal unit 12 are integrally connected to the second members 10b of the third reciprocal unit 13 and the fourth reciprocal unit 14 to form one member.
[0021] As schematically shown in FIG. 5, in each reciprocal unit 10, on the other end side of the first member 10a opposite to the one end side that is overlapped with the second member 10b, when a force directed to the other side in the overlapping direction is applied, the other end side is elastically deformed to be located on the other side in the overlapping direction rather than the one end side. Similarly, in the fourth member 10d, on the other end side of the fourth member 10d opposite to the one end side that is overlapped with the third member 10c, when a force directed to the other side in the overlapping direction is applied, the other end side is elastically deformed to be located on the other side in the overlapping direction rather than the one end side.
[0022] On the contrary, in each reciprocal unit 10, on the other end side of the second member 10b opposite to the one end side that is overlapped with the first member 10a, when a force directed to the one side in the overlapping direction is applied, the other end side is elastically deformed to be located on the one side in the overlapping direction rather than the one end side. Similarly, in the third member 10c, on the other end side of the third member 10c opposite to the one end side that is overlapped with the fourth member 10d, when a force directed to the one side in the overlapping direction is applied, the other end side is elastically deformed to be located on the one side in the overlapping direction rather than the one end side.
[0023] Thus, in each reciprocal unit 10, the first member 10a and the fourth member 10d are curved toward the other side in the overlapping direction, while the second member 10b and the third member 10c are curved toward one side in the overlapping direction, which is the opposite direction to the first member 10a and the fourth member 10d. As a result, each reciprocal unit 10 has a shape that resembles a hyperbolic surface.
[0024] Therefore, by combining sub-reciprocal units 20, each composed of four reciprocal units 10 (the first reciprocal unit 11, the second reciprocal unit 12, the third reciprocal unit 13, and the fourth reciprocal unit 14) each configured to resemble a hyperbolic surface, in the circumferential and vertical directions around the axis O, the reciprocal structure 1 can be easily constructed into a constricted columnar shape, that is, a shape that resembles a hyperbolic surface.
[0025] As described above, in the reciprocal structure 1 according to this embodiment, in a configuration in which a plurality of reciprocal units 10 are combined, the plurality of reciprocal units 10 are a first member 10a, a second member 10b whose one end overlaps with one end of the first member 10a from one side in the overlapping direction, a third member 10c whose intermediate portion overlaps with the intermediate portion of the first member 10a from the other side in the overlapping direction, and a third member whose one end overlaps with one end of the third member 10c from the other side in the overlapping direction, with the intermediate portion being the second member The reciprocal structure 1 has a fourth member 10d that overlaps the middle portion of 10b from one side in the overlapping direction, and the first member 10a and the fourth member 10d are elastically deformed so that the other end is located on the other side in the overlapping direction more than one end, and the second member 10b and the third member 10c are elastically deformed so that the other end is located on one side in the overlapping direction more than one end. As a result, multiple reciprocal units 10 can be combined to easily construct a reciprocal structure 1 in a shape that follows a hyperbolic surface.
[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a sub-reciprocal unit 20 is constructed by combining a first reciprocal unit 11, a second reciprocal unit 12, a third reciprocal unit 13, and a fourth reciprocal unit 14, each having the configuration of the above-described reciprocal unit 10. This sub-reciprocal unit 20 is then combined in the circumferential and vertical directions around the axis O to construct the reciprocal structure 1. As a result, by combining multiple sub-reciprocal units 20, the reciprocal structure 1 can be easily constructed into a constricted column shape, which is a type of shape that follows a hyperbolic surface.
[0027] Preferably, the other end (upper end) of the second member 10b of the uppermost first reciprocal unit 11 and the other end (upper end) of the second member 10b of the uppermost second reciprocal unit 12 are connected to and supported by the annular first support 30, while the other end (lower end) of the second member 10b of the lowermost third reciprocal unit 13 and the other end (lower end) of the second member 10b of the lowermost fourth reciprocal unit 14 are connected to and supported by the annular second support 31. With this configuration, the ends of the combination of multiple reciprocal units 10 or multiple sub-reciprocal units 20 are closed by the first support 30 and the second support 31, allowing the reciprocal structure 1 to be constructed as a single unit. This makes it possible to easily move the reciprocal structure 1.
[0028] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0029] In the above embodiment, the reciprocal structure 1 is shown as a constricted columnar shape, but it is not limited to this, and can be configured in various shapes as long as it is made up by combining multiple reciprocal units 10 as shown in Figure 3.
[0030] For example, as shown in Figure 6, the reciprocal structure 100 may be constructed by combining multiple reciprocal units 10 having the configuration shown in Figure 3 to form a shape that resembles a saddle. In this case, the members constituting the ends of the multiple reciprocal units 10 may be connected to a rod-shaped third support 32, and the structure may be supported by the third support 32. Even in such a configuration, by combining multiple reciprocal units 10, the reciprocal structure 1 can be easily constructed to have a shape that resembles a hyperbolic surface. Note that in Figure 6, for convenience, only one reciprocal unit 10 is labeled with a reference numeral.
[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the reciprocal structure 101 may be constructed by combining multiple reciprocal units 10 as shown in Figure 3 to form a saddle-shaped unit 40, and by combining multiple saddle-shaped units 40 vertically and horizontally to form a wall-like structure. In this case, the members constituting the ends of each saddle-shaped unit 40 may be connected to a rod-shaped fourth support 33, and the structure may be supported by the fourth support 33. Even in such a configuration, by combining multiple reciprocal units 10, the reciprocal structure 1 can be easily constructed to have a shape that resembles a hyperbolic surface. Note that in Figure 7, for convenience, only one reciprocal unit 10 and one saddle-shaped unit 40 are labeled with reference numerals. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0032] 1. Reciprocal structure 2 buildings 3 beds 4 Ceiling 10 Reciprocal Units 10a First member 10b Second member 10c Third member 10d Fourth member 11. First Reciprocal Unit 12. Second Reciprocal Unit 13. The third reciprocal unit 14. The fourth reciprocal unit 20 Subreciprocal Units 30 First support 31 Second support 32 Third support 33 Fourth support 40 saddle-shaped units 100 Reciprocal Structures 101 Reciprocal Structures O axis
Claims
1. A reciprocal structure composed of multiple reciprocal units, Each of the aforementioned reciprocal units, First member and A second member, one end of which overlaps with the one end of the first member from one side in the overlapping direction, The intermediate portion is a third member that overlaps the intermediate portion of the first member from the other side in the overlapping direction, The present invention has a fourth member whose one end overlaps the one end of the third member from the other side in the overlapping direction, and whose intermediate portion overlaps the intermediate portion of the second member from one side in the overlapping direction, A reciprocal structure characterized in that the first member and the fourth member are elastically deformed such that their other ends are located on the other side of the overlapping direction more than their one end, and the second member and the third member are elastically deformed such that their other ends are located on one side of the overlapping direction more than their one end.
2. The first reciprocal unit and, The first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member are arranged symmetrically with respect to the first reciprocal unit, and the second reciprocal unit is arranged adjacent to the right side of the first reciprocal unit, The first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member are arranged symmetrically above and below the first reciprocal unit, and a third reciprocal unit is arranged adjacent to the first reciprocal unit below, The first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member are arranged vertically symmetrically with respect to the second reciprocal unit, and the fourth reciprocal unit is arranged adjacent to and below the second reciprocal unit, A sub-reciprocal unit is formed by integrally connecting the fourth member of the first reciprocal unit and the fourth member of the second reciprocal unit, integrally connecting the fourth member of the third reciprocal unit and the fourth member of the fourth reciprocal unit, integrally connecting the third member of the first reciprocal unit and the third member of the third reciprocal unit, and integrally connecting the third member of the second reciprocal unit and the third member of the fourth reciprocal unit. The reciprocal structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sub-reciprocal units are combined in the circumferential and vertical directions around an axis to form a constricted columnar shape.
3. The other end of the second member of the uppermost first reciprocal unit and the other end of the second member of the uppermost second reciprocal unit are each supported by an annular first support, The reciprocal structure according to claim 2, wherein the other end of the second member of the third reciprocal unit located at the lowest side and the other end of the second member of the fourth reciprocal unit located at the lowest side are each supported by an annular second support.