Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Patent
1982-02-01
1984-03-27
Raduazo, Henry E.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
52655, 403172, E04H 1200
Patent
active
044386168
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to space frames.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Space frames are well known and extensively used in the construction of buildings such as exhibition halls, theatres and the like where large areas are required to be covered, free of supporting columns. For such purposes, architects commonly favour space frames of the double-layer flat grid type, such a structure having an upper square grid assembly of longitudinal and transverse chord members spaced above a lower square grid assembly of longitudinal and transverse chord members, intersections of the upper and lower grids being interconnected by diagonal struts so that the space frame consists of a combination of square-base pyramidal shapes.
The economy or otherwise of space frames of this type is particularly sensitive to the cost of the nodal connections of the members comprising the grid, and a variety of connector components have been devised for interconnecting, at each node of the structure, the longitudinal and lateral chord members and the diagonal struts.
An ideal jointing method should:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised with the general object of providing a space frame in which the node connections satisfy these requirements.
Accordingly, the invention resides broadly in a space frame of the type having an upper grid of longitudinal and lateral chord members, a lower grid of longitudinal and lateral chord members, and diagonal struts interconnecting nodes at chord intersections of the two grids, wherein at each node one chord member overlies the other, an end of each strut extending from the node is interposed between the said chord members, and a connector member is secured through each of the said strut ends and through the chord members above and below the said strut end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic plan and elevation views respectively of a section of a flat double-layer space frame,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of the space frame encircled at 3 in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 3, and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of the space frame encircled at 5 in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The double-layer flat grid space frame illustrated is built up of longitudinal chord members 10 and lateral chord members 11 interconnected to form an upper square grid; longitudinal chord members 12 and lateral chord members 13 interconnected to form a lower square grid; and web diagonals or struts 14 fixed between the upper and lower grids.
All of the chord members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are of fairly light gauge channel sections, their parallel flanges 15 having edge portions 16 turned through right angles towards each other, the channels of the longitudinal and lateral chord members of each of the upper and lower grids being oppositely directed so that the webs 17 of the crossing members are towards each other.
Each of the diagonal struts 14 is of fairly light gauge steel tube, having both end portions flattened, as indicated at 18, the two flattened ends being bent, in opposite directions, through an acute angle to the axis of the main unflattened part of the strut, so that the two flattened end portions 18 are parallel. Both sides of each flattened end portion 18 are mitred, as shown in FIG. 4, to meet, at an extremity of the strut, at a right angle.
At each intersection in the upper grid of longitudinal and lateral chord members 10 and 11 (see FIG. 5) and at each lower grid intersection of longitudinal and lateral chord members 12 and 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the two crossing members have the flattened ends 18 of four diagonal struts 14 interposed adjacently between them, four bolts 19 making a secure connection at the node 20. Each of the bolts 19 passes through registering bolt holes in the longitudinal chord member, one of the interposed strut flattened end, and the lateral chord member. As shown in FIG. 4,
REFERENCES:
patent: 2284898 (1942-06-01), Hartman
patent: 3120955 (1964-02-01), Carlin
patent: 3336718 (1967-08-01), Cape
patent: 3443348 (1969-05-01), Papayoti
patent: 3477189 (1969-11-01), Merson
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