GB2257173A

GB2257173A - Space frame joint system.

Info

Publication number: GB2257173A
Application number: GB9114338A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ali Ziari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-03
Filing date: 1991-07-03
Publication date: 1993-01-06
Also published as: GB9114338D0

Abstract

A space frame comprises a series of rods 12 connected by a series of spherical solid ball joints 11 with holes 13 and recesses 22 to receive the rods and diagonal, smaller holes 14 to receive a locking pin 21. <IMAGE>

Description

SPACE FRAME JOINT SYSTEM This invention relates to assemblage of structural frame member which are interconnected at joints to form a space frame.

A vertical or horizontal frame system in particular single or double skinned curved surface frame system capable of providing large uninterrupted spans without columns, which might include structures such as covering a large area eg. Football-stadium, swimming-poll, petrol-stations and greenhouse, conservatory, porch or solarium etc.

Since the popularisation of geodesic domes by R.B. Fuller U.S. patent No.

2,682,235 there has been rapid growth in the scale of use and in the size of single and double skinned curved surface space frames. Where high strength low weight materials are used, the scope for providing slender covering of open spaces, taking advantage of many economies of scale, becomes most attractive.

The dome and space frame continues to be used in a variety of applications of its basic geometry and construction.

As a measures, assembly of structural frame members with triangulated sheets of materials has been described in U.S. patent No. 3,477,752 and for a geodesic type dome construction in U.S. patent No. 3,909,994.

This class of spacedomes consider in their construction the assemblage of structural frame member which are interconnected at joints.

The openings are usually covered by sheets of light weight materials which are secured around their edges to the extruded structural members and connection devices.

According to the present invention there is, provided, a frame system which comprises a series of elongate frame members adopted to be connected to a series of joints, the joints comprising spherical solid ball with as many holes as possible therein, and elongate members each adopted to be fixed within a joint and to be connected to adjacent joint.

This fixing can be permanent or to make a joint stronger special glue can be poured in to a holes before inserting elongate member.

The elongate members are tubular, solid tube or preferably rectangular because it gives a good fixing position for covering and conveniently have cylinder ends with fixed distance diagonal hole at each ends, so that the member's end and diagonal hole can be matched by the holes in the joint.

The elongate members are pushed in to the holes and fixed at each ends by a locking device through a diagonal holes in the joint and member. To require stronger connection, the joints have external cuts to suit elongate member's shape, each member with cylinder ends can be pushed in to the hole and positioned in to the external cut, this external cut give extra strength and facilitates easy manufacturing and will prevent members to move, and locking device pushed in to the diagonal holes will keep elongate member in position. This locking device facilitate the direction transmission of tension and/or compression stress, and will give fixity to spherical joints. The spherical solid joints can be cast or machined and put in to a special machine drilled and cut to a given angles and dimensions.

The members can be manufactured by means of preferably casting a long rectangular tube and then cut to a given dimension and put in to a lathe to shape the ends and drilled.

The spherical solid joints and members may be manufactured from any suitable material providing it will co-inside with design and calculation.

The invention will be described by way of specific example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of the elongate members at a connection joint.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the elongate members and spherical solid joint.

Figure 3A illustrates elevation plan front elevation of two type elongate member.

Figure 3B illustrates perspective view of a solid tube or tubular elongate member.

Figure 3C illustrates perspective view of a solid tube or tubular elongate member with narrow ends.

Figure 4A is a side elevation of a joint and elongate members.

Figure 4B is a plane view of a joint and elongate members.

Figure 5A,5B,5C and 5D illustrates elevation plan, side elevation and perspective views respectively of an assembled framework in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a single curved surface in accordance with the invention.

Detailed description Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a horizontal or vertical space frame and single or double skinned curve surface space frame in accordance with the invention described herein reference to Figures 1-4, comprises elongate member 12 and joint 11. The elongate member 12 as illustrated in Figures 3A,3B and 3C comprises a tube or preferably rectangular member with cylinder on each ends 15 and smaller diagonal holes 16.

The joint 11 comprise spherical solid ball having as many as possible holes 13 and diagonal holes 14 with external cut 22 around each holes 13 to suit elongate member's shape 12. A locking device 21 is provided in order to fix a elongate member in position.

Initially elongate member 12 are pushed into a hole 13 and fixed at its position by a locking device 21 through a diagonal hole 14 and member's hole 16. This fixing can be permanent and/or stronger by applying each end of elongate member in to a special glue and then pushed in to a hole 13 and keep it in position by a locking device 21.

Claims

1: A vertical or horizontal frame system and single or double skinned curved surface space frame system which comprises a series of elongate members adopted to be connected to a series of joints, the joints comprising spherical solid ball with as many as possible holes and smaller diagonal holes with external cut to match each members shape at each holes.

2: A system as claimed in 1 in which spherical solid joint after initial preparation for fixing, the excessive material of such a joint can be cut out and make it to any shape require.

3: A system as claimed in 1 to 2 in which members can be fixed to a joint through diagonal holes in the joint and member, by a pin or a bolt and nut.

4: A system as claimed in 1 to 2 in which member can be fixed to a joint through threaded diagonal holes with bolt.

5: A system as claimed in 1 to 4 in which external cuts in shape of members are adopted, so that member can sit in to the cut.

6: A system as claimed in 1 to 4 in which members end can be shaped to match exterior of the joint.

7: A system as claimed in 1 to 6 in which fixing can be achieved or improved by applying special glue to the joint and/or member.

8: A system as claimed in any of preceding claims in which the elongate members can be rectangle, triangle, trapezium, tube or tube with narrow end.

9: A system as claimed in 8 the elongate member are hollow or solid with solid and/or hollow cylinder, rectangle with half circle on each end or ellipse with diagonal holes at each end.

10: A system as claimed in any of the preceding and above claims in which members are fixed at each end to an adjacent joint.

11: A system as claimed in 1 to 10 elongate members can have taper on each end.

12: A system as claimed in 1 to 11 in which an elongate member is connected horizontally, vertically or diagonally to an adjacent joint.

13: A system as claimed in any claim described above will be manufactured from any suitable material.

14: As an article of manufactures for use, the joint and members as defined in claim 1 to 13 can be mass fabricated using casting or machined method and injection or press moulding process in its fabrication.

15: A vertical or horizontal space frame and single or double layer curved space frame according to any above claim where in the flat or curved surface is made of elongate members connected to a series of joints.

16: A vertical, horizontal frame system and single or double layer curved space frame system according to claim 1 to 15 and substantially as herein described.

17: A frame system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawing.