Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Patent
1991-02-14
1992-11-24
Scherbel, David A.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
52650, 52655, 403172, 403171, 403169, E04H 1200
Patent
active
051652145
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a space frame.
(2) Prior Art
The space frame described and illustrated in the specification of Australian Patent No. 538693 is of double-layer flat grid type, in which both the upper and the lower grids are composed of similar size squares similarly oriented, but relatively displaced so that a node of the upper grid is located over the center of a square of the lower grid, nodes of the two grids being interconnected by oblique web members or struts.
Although this configuration of space frame is widely adopted, in certain applications it is preferred that a space frame of double-layer flat grid type should have one grid skewed or angularly displaced by 45.degree. relative to the other.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is to provide a space frame broadly of this type which is particularly simple to make and assemble.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly in a space frame of double-layer flat grid type wherein, at a node:
two chords are superimposed;
one pair of opposed oblique struts in a vertical plane through one chord have terminals disposed on that chord;
a second pair of opposed oblique struts lying in a vertical plane through the other chord have terminals interposed between the two chords; and
the chords and the strut terminals at the node are interconnected by connecting means passed through the chords and the strut terminals.
Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that preferred embodiments of the invention may be readily understood and carried into practical effect, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of part of a space frame of the type in which one grid is skewed relative to the other;
FIG. 2 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a member forming a pair of oblique struts of the space frame;
FIG. 3 is a partly broken-away perspective view of interconnected nodes of the upper and lower grids of the space frame shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partly broken-away perspective view of a strut of a modified form of space frame according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a node of the lower grid of the modified form of space frame; and
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a space frame node according to a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the space frame shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the lower grid is composed of longitudinal chords 10 and lateral chords 11 arranged in squares. The upper grid is composed of a series of chords 12 and a perpendicular series of chords 13 which are assembled in squares which are smaller than those of the lower grid and are, in plan view, at angles of 45.degree. to the chords of the lower grid, each lower grid node 14 (except for those at the corners or sides of the space frame) being directly below the center of a square of the upper grid and therefore equidistant from four nodes 15 of the upper grid. The location of oblique struts 16 interconnecting the nodes of the upper and lower grids are indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1, these struts lying in vertical planes through the chords 10 and 11 of the lower grid.
The chords 10 and 11 of the lower grid and the chords 12 and 13 of the upper grid are all of fairly light gauge sheet metal roll-formed to lipped channel shape. At each node of the upper and the lower grid one chord member is superimposed on the other, the upper with its channel opening upwards, the lower one reversed.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the struts or web members 16 are made as unitary pairs, each of which is formed of a single length of metal tube which at its middle is formed with a flattened section which serves as a middle terminal plate 17 and through which a single bolt hole 18 is formed. The two tubular sections or struts 16 diverge from this midd
REFERENCES:
patent: 4365330 (1982-12-01), Chopping et al.
patent: 4438616 (1984-03-01), Codd
patent: 4622795 (1986-11-01), Codd
patent: 4704836 (1987-11-01), Codd
Harley Systems Pty Ltd.
Scherbel David A.
Wood Wynn E.
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