US2803317A - Structural space frames - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1957 l R. HENDERSON 2,803,317

STRUCTURAL SPACE FRAMES v 5 Filed May 31, 1955. 5 sheds-sneu 1 'Aug'. 20, 1957 R. HENDERSON STRUCTURAL SPACE FRAMES Filed My 31, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS l Aug. 20, 1957 R. HENDERSON 2,803,317

STRCTURAL SPACE ERAMES v Filed May 51, 1955 5 sheets-sheet' 5 INVENTOR v/4% 'm ATTORNEYS l Aug. 20, 1957 R. HENDERSON 2,803,317

f 4 4 STRUCTURAL SFACE FRAMES 4 Filed May 3l, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOR EYS Aug.20,'1957 RHENDERSON- STRUCTURAL SPACE FRAMES Filed May 31, .1955 5 sheets-sheet 5 FIG.

INVENTOR- WrK Unte States arent STRUCTURAL SPACE FRAlVIES Robert Henderson, South Devon, England, assignor to Research Interests Limited, London, England, a British company Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 512,103

Claims priority, application Great Britain May 31, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to structural space frames.

According to the present invention, such a frame comprises a skeleton forming (when expanded if collapsible) interconnected and alternately inverted pyramids, there being several of such pyramids along both the length and the width of the frame, one main surface of the frame being formed by the contiguous bases of the pyramids facing in one direction and the other main surface of the frame being formed by the contiguous bases of the other set of pyramids which are inverted in respect of the first set, the bases of the pyramids being defined by the apices of the adjacent inverted pyramids, and the inclined edges of the pyramids (which are common to each adjacent pair of relatively inverted pyramids) being formed by tie members joined together at points each of which constitutes the apex of one pyramid and a corner of the bases of the adjacent inverted pyramids, the skeleton being adapted to be connected at some or all the apices to other members (not part of the space frame as such) which it is desired to support, reinforce and interconnect.

The word severa where used in this specification and n claims means three or more.

It will be appreciated that at the boundary edge of the structural space frame, i. e., at the edges of the main surfaces, or at gaps provided in thc space frames, the pyramids may be incomplete.

The space frame can if desired be built up from a number of units each consisting of a plurality of interconnected and inverted pyramids.

The tie members are preferably of tubular form, and can be of rectangular cross-section with central reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally of the upper and lower walls of each member to resist local buckling. The tie members can be hingedly connected to junction members at the apices of the pyramids so that they can be folded towards one another to enable the frame to be collapsed, lengthwise and widthwise, into a relatively small compass. This facilitates packing and transport. The frame, or units of the frame, can, for example, easily be delivered to a building site in the collapsed condition and can be opened when required after arrival on the site.

Tension wires can be provided to bridge the spaces between adjacent junction members; these wires are hingedly connected to the junction members and have hinged joints intermediate their ends so that they can be folded with the tie members and are of such a length that when the frame is fully expanded to its operative position the wires are straight and adapted to provide tension members between the junction members.

The main surfaces of the frame, when in its operative position, can, if desired, be curved.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a structural space frame according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view of part of the frame,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a tie member,

ice

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an optional addition to the frame looking from beneath, the sheet being converted for clarity,

Figure 6 is an end View,

Figures 7 and 8 are details of alternative parts of the addition, while Figure 9 is a View illustrating the application of the invention to a curved space frame.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l to 4, a collapsible structural space frame is built up from a number of tie members 1 which are inclined with respect to each other so that they define the inclined edges of a plurality of interconnected and alternately inverted pyramidal skeletons, each pyramid being foursided. These tie members 1 can be of aluminium or a light metal alloy or of steel or other suitable material and are of hollow rectangular or square crosssection. They can each conveniently be built up from two U-channel sections 1a and 1b (Figure 4), the free ends of the arms of which are bent over to form interlocking ribs 2. These ribs 2 are disposed on the outside of the top and bottom walls of the tie member and serve as a reinforcement which resists local buckling. The side walls of the tie members l project beyond the top and bottom to provide, at each end of the tie members, lugs or extensions 3 which are hingedly connected by pivots 4 to junction members 5.

The ribs 2 are not essential as the tie members can, for example, be of drawn rectangular tube. In a further alternative, the tie members can have end portions of hollow rectangular cross-section in which tit main portions of another material.

The junction members 5 each comprise a body portion Sa (Figure 3) having four arms 5b projecting from it at right angles land folded to shape from a single sheet of aluminium or light metal alloy or other suitable material. The lugs 3 of thetie members l tit over each of these arms 5b and are connected thereto by the pivots 4. The junction members 5 are therefore mounted at the apices of the various alternately inverted pyramidal skeletons which together constitute the space frame. The body portions Sa of the junction members present fiat outer surfaces which can support a baton 6a or 6b or a beam, joist, or other part of a building and have suitable apertures 7 to receive screws or bolts or the like. The body portions forming the apexes of the pyramids facing in one direction all lie in one plane and those forming the apices of the pyramids facing in the opposite direction all lie in another plane spaced from and parallel to the first. Thus, for example, the body portions in one plane can be used to support batons 6a carrying a roof 8a and those in the other plane can be used to support batons 6b carrying a ceiling 8b. It should be noted that, if desired, the parts (e. g., batons or beams) supported by the body portion 5a in one plane can be set at right angles to, or diagonally of, those supported by the body portion in the other plane.

Owing to the hinged connexions between the tie members l and the junction member 3, the tie members can be folded towards one another (as shown in broken lines in Figure 2) to collapse the structure so as to reduce its size in two directions to facilitate transport or storage.

If desired, some of the pyramid skeletons can be omitted to provide an opening or wall for the passage of, for example, a staircase or lantern light.

Some of the pyramid skeletons can be of different sizes without preventing the structure from being collapsed or folded.

The space frame can be used in the construction of flat or pitched roofs or it can be used vertically in the construction of a wall.

Figures 5 to S illustrate the addition of a two-dimensional folding lower chord tension member to the space frame illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 in substitution for the bottom batons 6b and the same reference numerals are used to designate similar parts. In this construction, tension wires 9 bridge the spaces between adjacent bottom junction members 5. These tension Wires are each assembled from two lengths of wire hingedly connected toge-ther by a wire ring 10, The tension wires 9 are hingedly secured to the junction members by connectors il which each comprise a cruciform plate 11a secured to the body part 5a of a junction member and a wire frame 11a, the free ends of the arms of the cruciform plate being bent to embrace the frame 11b. The free ends of the cross-ties 9 are bent round the corners of the frame 11b. The frame can be of substantially square shape as shown in Figures 5 and 8 or it can have eyes at the corners as shown in Figure 7. The cross-ties 9 can be collapsed with the space frame as shown in Figure 6 and the eyes 11C ensure that the tension wires 9 move in a desired plane when being folded up.

The space frame is not restricted to use in the flat, but can be used in any arch form ranging between the fiat and a full semi-circle. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the application of the invention to such a curved space frame and in this figure the same reference numerals are used to denote parts similar to those illustratedI in the preceding gures, curved members 12, 13 being respectively secured to the inner and outer series of junction members. To some extent, it can also be used to provide a dome.

If desired, the junction members can be made of such a shape that they can be nested one within another. In said case, the tie members are not hinged to them, but are rivetted to them so that the space frame has to be assembled on -the site.

What I claim is:

l. A structural space frame of variable configuration for supporting, reinforcing, and connecting members, comprising a skeleton formed by interconnected and alternately inverted pyramids, there being several such pyramids along both the length and width of the frame, one main surface of the frame being formed by the contiguous bases of the pyramids facing in one direction and the other main surface of the frame being formed by the contiguous bases of the other set of pyramids which are inverted in respect of the first set, the bases of the pyramids being defined by the apices of the adjacent inverted pyramids, tie members defining inclined edges of the pyramids and joined together at points each of which constitutes the apex of one pyramid and a corner of the bases of the adjacent inverted pyramids, each of said tie members being common to an adjacent pair of relatively inverted pyramids, the skeleton being adapted to be connected at least some of the apices to said members which it is desired to support, reinforce and interconnect, a junction member at the apex of each of said pyramids, and hinge means connecting said tie members and said junction members whereby said tie members can be folded towards one another so rthat the frame can be collapsed lengthwise and widthwise to assume various configurations.

2. A structural space frame as set forth in claim 1, said bases of the pyramids being four sided.

3. A structural space frame as set forth in claim l, including tension members for bridging the spaces between adjacent junction members in one plane of the frame, first hinge means connecting said junction members and said tension members, and second hinge means intermediate the ends of said tension members, whereby the latter can be collapsed with the frame.

4. A structural space frame as set forth in claim l, including complementary abutment means between the junction members and the tie members to define an open configuration of the frame.

5. A structural space frame as set forth in claim 4, said tie members being tubular in cross section.

6. A structural space frame as set forth in claim 5, said tubular tiemembers having reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally of the walls facing inwards and outwards of the pyramids in order to resist local buckling.

7. A structural space frame as set forth in claim 5, said tubular tie members comprising two U-channel sheet metal sections having the free ends of their sides bent and interlocked to provide said tie members with reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally of the walls facing inwards and outward of the pyramids thereby to resist local buckling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,155 Schmemann Aug. 26, 1890 2,353,07l Pitou July 4, 1944 2,433,677 Thomas Dec. 30, 1947 2,709,975 Parker June 7, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,218 France Sept. 2l, 1936 561,214 Great Britain May 10, 1944

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