Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPACE FRAME
This invention relates to space frames. More
particularly, it relates to space frames of the double
layer flat grid type having longitudinal and transverse
chords interconnected by a plurality of web members.
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 favor 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 asse~bly of
longitudinal and transverse chord members, intersections
of the upper and lower grids being interconnected by
diagonal struts or web members so that the space frame
consists of a combination of square-base pyramidal shapes.
The economy of space frames of this type is particu-
larly sensitive to the cost of the nodal connections of
the members comprising the grid. A variety of connector
components have been devised for interconnecting: at each
node of the structure, the longitudinal and lateral chord
members, and the dlagonal struts.
A typical way to make a space frame is to fabricate
membars and joints as unique parts and bolt them together
in the field. Some systems use pyramidal modules which
are field assembled.
There are three main disadvantages to those systems:
l. Costs - Where you have a node and member
connection, hardware costs are high.
2. Erection Time and Difficulty - The more pieces
you have, the more field assembly time required.
3. Exposed Fasteners - They are unsightly and tend
to corrode.
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The sp~ce frame of the present invention solves these
problems by utilizing a prefabricates truss module in
conjunction with transverse chords thereby reducing field
assembly -time by minimizing the number of parts. By
concealing the few fasteners inside the truss module chord
connections, corrosion of the fasteners has been
minimized.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a space
frame comprising a combination of truss modules and
transverse chords being interconnected by transverse
fastening means; said transverse chords being parallel to
each other; said truss modules being alternatingly by
arranged in two parallel planes; each truss module com-
prising a plurality of web membersl connecting members~
and split longitudinal chords; said connecting members
having interface surfaces; said split longitudinal chords
having interface surfaces; said web members and said
connecting members being affixed to said split longi-
tudinal chords to form said truss modules~ said trussmodules being connected to each other at said interface
surfaces of said split longitudinal chords by said
transverse fastening maans located within said truss
modules interconnected with said transverse chords; and
said transverse chords being connected at said first
interface surfaces of said connecting members of each
truss module by said transverse fastening means to fonn
said space frame.
One embodiment of the invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the
aocompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a space frame o the present
embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view looking along line 2-2
of FIG. l;
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FIG. 3 is an elevational view looking along line 3-3
of FIGo 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective segrnentary view of
the space frame shown in FIG. 1 showing the truss module
and transverse chord arrangement;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective segmentary view of
the space frame encircled at 4 in FIG. 1 showing one
manner of assembling web sections, split longitudinal
chords, and a truss alinement member to form a truss
module;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective segmentary view of
the space frame encircled at 4 in FIG. 1, showing one
manner of assembling a transverse chord and two truss
modules with a fast~ner;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective segmentary view of
the space frame encircled at 4 in FIG. 1 showing one
manner o assembling a second transverse chord to the two
truss modules and transverse chord shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective segmentary view of
the space frame encircled at 4 in FIG. 1 showing the com-
pleted assembly of the space frame components in FIG . 7 .
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective segmentary view of
another embodiment of the space frame encircled at 4 in
FIG. 1 showing a transverse chord, two truss modules and a
transverse fastener arrangement.
For a better understanding of the present invention,
together with other and further objects, advantages and
capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following
disclosure and appended claims in connection with the
above-described drawing.
Shown in FIG. 1 is a space frame 10 comprising a
combination of truss modules 20, 21 shown in FIGS. 2, 3
and 4 and transverse chords 30.
Shown in FIGo 4 truss module 20 has a plurality of
web members 40, 41, split longitudinal chords 50, 51 and
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connecting members 60, 61. Also shown in FIG. 4 is truss
module 21 which has a plurality oE web membexs 42, 43,
split longitudirlal chords 52, 53 and connecting members
62, 63. Shown in FIG~ 5 are web members 40, 41, split
longitudinal chords 50, connecting members 60, 61 truss
alinement member 70, longitudinal fasteners 71, 72 such as
treaded rods with corresponding nuts 80, 81, 82, 83. The
split longitudinal chords 50, such as "U" shaped channels,
have ~irst interface surfaces 90 and inside surfaces 100.
Connecting plates 110, 111 which have two apertures each
are affixed and perpendicular to the inside surfaces 100
of the split longitudinal chords 50.
The connecting members 60 and 61 have foreshorted
split transverse chord portions 140, 141 and foreshortened
split longitudinal chord portions 120, 121 which have
affixed to them alinement members 130, 131 each having two
apertures. The foreshortened split transverse chord
portions 140~ 141 are affixed perpendicularly to the
foreshortened split longitudinal chord portions 120, 121
so that the foreshortened split longitudinal chord
portions 120, 121 will aline with the split longitudinal
chords 50 and the foreshortened split transverse chord
portions 140, 141 will aline with the transverse chord 30
shown in FIG. 6. The truss alinement member 70 has
positioning sleeves 150 and 160. Positioning sleeve 160
coacts with the two connecting members 60 and 61 which
have half moon openings 170, 171 respectively to receive
the positioning sleeve 160O The connecting members 60, 61
have first interface surfaces 180, 181 and second
interface surfaces 190, 191.
Shown in FIG. 6, the two split longitudinal chords
50; the two connecting members 60, 61 with webs members
40, 41 affixed to the connecting members 60, 61 and the
truss alinement member 70 are assembled and interconnected
by the longitudinal fasteners 71, 72 and their
corresponding nuts 80, 81, 82, 83 to form a partial
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section of the truss modu:Le 20. Also shown in FIG. 6 is a
partial section of another truss module 21 made up of
split longitudinal chords 52 web members 42, 43,
connecting members 62, 63 and a truss alinement member 73.
The split longitudlnal chords 52 have first interface
surfaces 92 and the connecting members 62, 63 have Eirst
interface surfaces lg2, 183 respectively,
The two truss modules 20, 21 are interconnected to
each other and the transverse chord 30 is interconnected
to the truss module 20 by coacting transverse fastener 200
with treads 31 of transverse chord 30 shown in FIG~ 6.
Hex nut 210 welded to transverse fastener 200 provides a
means for turning transverse fastener 200 to engage treads
31 with an appropriate tool. Positioning sleeve 150 of
truss alinement member 70 provides a stop for hex nut 210
since hex nut 210 can not pass between longitudinal
fasteners 71, 72 because there is not enough clearance
between the longitudinal fasteners 71, 72 and hex nut
210.. Once transverse chord 30 is secured to truss module
20 by transverse fastener 200, truss module 21 is
positioned to abut matching interface surfaces 90, 180,
181 with interface surfaces 92, 182~ 183 by sliding
transverse fastener 200 through positioning sleeves 151,
161 of truss alinement member 73 and coacting truss
alinement member 70 with truss alinement member 73 and
securing truss module 21 by applying nut 220 to transverse
fastener 200.
Shown in FIG. 7 is the engaging of a second
transverse chord 30 to the assembly of the first
transverse chord 30, truss module 20 and truss module 21
by rotating the second transverse chord 30 to engage
treads 240 of the second transverse chord 30 with
transverse fastener 200 until the second transverse chord
positioning sleeve 250 coacts with truss module 21 forming
a completed assembly shown in FIG. 8.
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Shown i.n FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present
invention. Truss modules 300, 310 interconnect with two
transverse chords 30 to form a space frame 10. Two of the
transverse chords 30 interconnect with truss module 300
and truss module 310 by the engagement of transverse
fastener 500 having an affixed nut 510 to transverse chord
30 and the engagement of affixed nut 510 with truss module
300 followed by the engagement of nut 520 with truss
module 310 and finally the engagement of the second
transverse chord 30 with the transverse fastener 500 as
shown in FIG. 9.
Truss module 300 comprises split longitudinal chords
305 which have foreshortened transverse chords 320 affixed
perpendicular to them, and two web members 400, ~10
affixed to split longitudinal chords 305.
Truss module 310 comprises split longitudinal chords
315 which have foreshortened transverse chords 330 affixed
perpendicular to them, and web members 420, 430 affixed to
split longitudinal chords 315.
The transverse fastener 500 has a nut 510 affixed to
it so when transverse fastener 500 enyages transverse
chord 30 the affixed nut 510 engages the split
longitudinal chord 305 forcing the first interface 350 of
foreshortened transverse chord 320 to engage transverse
chord 30.
~ russ module 310 engages truss module 300 at their
respective first interface surfaces 330, 3~0 by the
engagement of nut 520 against the split longitudinal chord
315 thereby forcing the two truss modules 300, 310
together and the second transverse chord 30 is attached
rotating transverse chord 30 to engage threads 530 of the
second transverse chord 30 with the transverse fastener
500 until the second transverse chora 30 is positioned to
form a completed assembly.
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The sp~ce frame of the present embodiments eliminates
most of the connecting hardware (bolts, nodes, pins, field
welds) ty~ically required in other space frame systems.
The space frame truss modules of the present
inven-tion can be pre-assembled by welding the parts
together to form a truss of desired length followed by
painting to obtain a high quality paint finish or the
truss parts can be painted before shop assembling into the
desired truss module lengths. These truss modules can be
conveniently stacked for shipment thereby reducing
shipping costs.
Typically, the truss of the present invention would
have separate parts painted prior to assembly comprising
the split longitudinal chords, truss alinement members and
web member welded to the connecting members as one piece
web sections each having one web and two connecting
members, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or the web members can
be affixed to the connecting members by other means such
as holts after they are painted.
All the separate parts would then be assembled to
make the desired truss module.
The transverse chord positioning sleeve i5 designed
to prevent damage to the painted sur~aces of the truss
module while assembling the pre-painted transverse chord
as shown in FIG. 7 by providing a slight gap ~1/16")
between the interface surface of the transverse chord and
the second interface surfaces of the connecting member of
the ~russ module. The transverse chord positioning sleeve
is only required at one end of the transverse chord since
3U the other end of the transverse chord not having the
positioning sleeve as illustrated in ~IG. 6 interconnects
with the truss module without turning the trans~erse chord
as is required during the final assembly shown in FIG. 7.
The longitudinal fasteners such as threaded roas, "U"
bolts, turn buckets, etc. and the transverse fasteners are
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hidden from view once the parts are assembled as shown in
FIG. 7.
The space frame end portions can be finished off by
bolting end channels having recessed bolt holes to achieve
a space frame having an ethically pleasing appearance for
less cost while maintaining the ability to carry the same
applied loads as other space frame systems.
The material of construction vf the present invention
can be of any suitable structural material such as steel,
aluminum, magnesium, wood, etc.
The shape of the chords and web members can vary
depending upon the structural and esthetic needs, i.e.,
such as round, square, elliptical, etc.
While there has been shown and described what is at
present considered the preferred embodiment of the
invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
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