Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Patent
1985-04-22
1986-11-18
Murtagh, John E.
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
52655, 403172, E04H 1200, E04C 302
Patent
active
046227954
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 extensively used in situations where shallow depth construction is required over large spans with a minimum of elastic movement under load, and a minimum number of supports.
A space frame is commonly of double-layer type, with upper and lower grids of longitudinal and lateral members, or chords, the nodes, or junctions of chords, of the upper and lower grids being interconnected by oblique struts or web members.
Although, in some space frame constructions, the nodes of the upper grid are aligned directly above corresponding nodes of the lower grid, and the struts may include vertical struts between such nodes, more commonly the upper grid nodes are displaced both laterally and longitudinally relative to the nodes of the lower grid, so that each lower grid node is equidistant from, and connected by oblique struts to, four of the nodes of the upper grid.
Other space frame constructions may include barrel-vaulted and domed structures, and a dome may be of single-layer type comprising an arrangement of hexagons and pentagons, five or six chord members being co-joined at a node.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The general object of the present invention is to provide a space frame which may be of double-layer type, or of domed or other signle-layer type, and which is particularly simple and economical to manufacture, assemble and erect without requiring any elaborate or costly connectors. Other objects achieved in preferred embodiments of the invention are to provide such a space frame which is well suited to the economical application of weather protection and also to the application of an inner line or ceiling.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly in a space frame of the type having a multiplicity of frame members, assemblies of which have ends co-joined at nodes by connecting means, wherein, at a node, the nodal end of each of the frame members of an assembly includes two transversely stepped parts, herein called upper and lower parts; the upper part is superimposed on the lower part of the nodal end of a succeeding frame member of the assembly, and the connecting means connect together each pair of superimposed parts.
The frame members, which may be assemblies of oblique struts as well as assemblies of chord members, are preferably tubular with their ends flattened, the flattened ends being shaped to form the transversely stepped parts and the connecting means are preferably bolts equal in number to the chord ends at the node, each passed through registering bolt holes in a pair of superimposed parts and engaged by a nut. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be readily understood and carried into practical effect, parts of space frames according to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of ends of chords and oblique struts at a lower grid node of a space frame,
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembled node,
FIG. 3 is a view from below of the node shown in FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an upper node of a space frame according to a modification of the invention,
FIG. 5 is a view from below of the node shown in FIG. 4, and
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of ends of chords and oblique struts at a lower grid node of a space frame according to a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the chords 10 of each layer of a double-layer space frame are lengths of round-section metal tube each end of which is flattened and also deformed to a transversely stepped formation of two substantially equal adjacent parts 11 and 12. One of these parts, when they are horizontal, is above the level of the other, the top surface of the lower part 11 being sub
REFERENCES:
patent: 4438616 (1984-03-01), Codd
patent: 4505609 (1985-03-01), Vella
Murtagh John E.
Tulserate Limited
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