GB2382359A

GB2382359A - Structural elongate element

Info

Publication number: GB2382359A
Application number: GB0226935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-21
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2003-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-19
Also published as: GB0226935D0; GB0127818D0; WO2003046302A1; AU2002339182A1; GB2382359B; EP1488055A1

Abstract

An elongate structural element 10 has a pair of longitudinally extending chords 12,14, the chords 12,14 being spaced from one another and being interconnected along their lengths by a plurality of bracing members 16, the bracing members 16 being configured as close curve members (e.g. ellipse, circular or oval), each bracing member 16 being secured to each of the chords 12,14.

Description

STRUCTURAL ELONGATE ELEMENTS The present invention relates to structural elongate elements and in particular to lattice elements such as trusses, beams, girders or columns and also to space frames formed from such elements.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an elongate structural element comprises a pair of longitudinally extending chords, the chords being spaced from one another and being interconnected along their lengths by a plurality of bracing members, the bracing members being configured as closed curved members, each bracing member being secured to each of the chords.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each bracing member is also secured to adjacent bracing members.

Preferably, the bracing members are of circular, elliptical or oval configuration. The chords may be straight or curvilinear and may be parallel to one another or of varying separation.

The chords and braces are preferably formed from metal bar of any suitable simple or compound section, for example "I", "T", angle section, circular hollow section, square hollow section, rectangular hollow section, universal beam or universal column. The chords are preferably formed as a continuous length. The chords may alternatively be formed from several lengths, joined together in suitable manner.

The bracing members may be secured to the chords and/or to one another, either directly or with spacing means located there between.

The bracing members may be secured to the chords, each other or spacing members in any suitable manner, for example welding, brazing,

bonding, bolting or rivetting.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically, in side elevation, a latticed girder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a third embodiment of the present invention ; Figure 4 illustrates diagrammatically a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates diagrammatically a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates diagrammatically a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a connecting between a bracing member and chord in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 illustrates a connecting between a bracing member and chord in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention As illustrated in Figure 1, a latticed girder 10 comprises a pair of straight

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chords 12,14 of for example square hollow section steel located parallel to one another, in spaced apart relationship. A series of circular bracing members 16 of equal diameter formed, for example, from square hollow section of smaller dimensions than the chords 12,14, are secured between the chords 12,14 in suitable manner, for example by welding or bolting. The circular bracing members 16 are also secured to adjacent bracing members 16 in similar manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the upper chord 22 is bent at its mid-point, so that the separation between chords 22 and 24 decreases from the mid-point to the ends of the beam 20. The bracing members 26 are of elliptical configuration, the axes of the bracing members 26 decreasing from that located at the mid-point of the beam 20, towards the ends of the beam 20.

The bracing members 26 are secured to the chords 22 and 24 and to one another, in similar manner to the beam described with reference to Figure 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the upper chord 32 is again bent at its mid-point so that the chords 32 and 34 converge towards one another meeting at the extremities of the beam 30. Circular bracing members 36 are of diminishing diameter from the centre of the beam, and are secured to the chords 32 and 34 and to one another in similar manner to that described above.

In the beam 40 illustrated in Figure 4, the chords 42 and 44 are curved, having the same radius of curvature, so that they are disposed parallel to one another. Elliptical bracing members 46 of equal dimensions, are secured between the chords 42 and 44 and to one another, as described above.

In the beam illustrated in Figure 5, the chords 52 and 54 are again of curved configuration but of different radius of curvature, so that the chords 52 and 54 converge towards one another at their mid-point.

Circular bracing members 56 are secured between the chords 52 and 54 and to one another in similar manner to that described above.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the beam 60 comprises an upper chord 62 of curved configuration and a lower chord 64 having two straight portions angled to one another, the lower chord 64 engaging the upper chord 62 and being secured thereto at its mid-point and diverging away from the upper chord 62 towards the ends of the beam 60. Circular bracing members 66 of varying diameter are located between each section of the lower chord 64 and the upper chord 62 and are secured to the chords and each other, in similar manner to that described above.

As illustrated in figure 7, in for example the latticed girder 10 illustrated in figure 1, the bracing members 16 of square hollow section, are secured directly to the chords 12,14 also of square hollow section, by means of fillet or butt welds 70. Alternatively the bracing members 16 and chords may be brazed, bonded, bolted or rivetted together. The bracing members 16 may also be secured to one another in similar manner.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 8, a spacing member 80 of square hollow section, is interposed between to bracing member 16 and chord 12,14. The spacing member 80 being secured to the chord 1 2, 14 and the bracing member 1 6 by full profile fillet or butt welds 82, or by brazing, bonding, bolting or rivetting. Alternatively the bracing member may be bolted directly to the chord with the spacing member 80 interposed there between. The bracing members 16 may be interconnected with bracing members interposed there between, in similar

manner to that described above. The spacing members 80 may be of any suitable section.

It will be appreciated that a combination of direct and spaced connections may be used to secure the bracing members 16 to chords 12,14 and to each other, in a single structural elongate element or space frame.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention and the above embodiments are only examples. Any combination of chords and bracing members, may be used in accordance with the present invention, to form an elongate structural element.

Furthermore, a series of beams formed in accordance with the present invention may be arranged in intersecting relationship and interconnected to form a space frame. Preferably in such an arrangement one set of beams will be arranged parallel to one another in spaced apart relationship, a second set of beams being arranged in parallel spaced apart relationship, the second set of beams being angled with respect to the first set, for example at right angles, so that the two sets of beams intersect, the chords of the beams being secured together at the points of intersection, in suitable manner.

Claims

1. An elongate structural element comprising a pair of longitudinally extending chords, the chords being spaced from one another and being inter-connected along their lengths by a plurality of bracing members, the bracing members being configured as close curve members, each bracing member being secured to each of the chords.

2. An elongate structural element according to claim 1 in which adjacent bracing members are secured to one another.

3. An elongate structural element according to claim 1 or 2 in which spacing members are interposed between the bracing members and the chords and/or between adjacent bracing members.

4. An elongate structural element according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the bracing members are of circular, elliptical or oval configuration.

5. A structural elongate element according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the chords are of straight or curvilinear configuration.

6. A structural element according to claim 5 in which the chords are parallel to one another or of varying separation.

7. A structural element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the chords, bracing members and/or spacing members are formed from metal bar of ;"I","T", angle section, circular hollow section, square hollow section, rectangular hollow section, universal beam and/or universal column configuration.

8. A structural elongate element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the bracing members are secured to the chords and/or one another and/or the spacing members, by means of welding, brazing, bonding, bolting and/or rivetting.

9. A structural elongate element substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A space frame formed from a series of intersecting elongate structural elements, the elongate structural elements being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the chords of the elongate elements being secured together at their points of intersection.