NZ199420A - Space frame nodal joint:ends of diagonal struts non-overlapping and individually secured - Google Patents

Description

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NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 ^•ss9>. (* '6 'I, ;No.: Date: ;COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;"SPACE FRAMES" ;I/Wer EDWIN THOMAS CODD, a citizen of Australia, ;of 87 Albert Street, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Austral!a, ;hereby declare the invention for which I / we pray that a patent may be granted to pie/trs-, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - ;199420 ;THIS INVENTION relates to space frames. ;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 architects commonly favour 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 assembly of longitudinal and 10 transverse chord members, intersections of the upper and lower grids being interconnected by diagonal struts so that the space frame consists of a combination of square-base pyramidal shapes. ;15 type is particularly sensitive to the cost of the nodal connections of the members comprising the grid, and a variety of connector components have been devised for interconnecting, at each node of the structure,the longitudinal and lateral chord members and the diagonal struts. ;20 An ideal jointing method should: ;\ ;a) permit any required arrangement and number of ;5 covered, free of supporting columns. For such purposes, ;The economy or otherwise of space frames of this ;25 d) ;c) ;b) ;members at the joint, ;match the strength of the incoming members, be compact, ;employ readily available materials suited to mass ;-2- ;J. 1 ;JL ;production, ;e) be suitable for use with standard steel members, ;f) require little or no specialised technique or equipment in fabrication, ;5 g) be simple to assemble, ;h) be compatable with other building materials, ;i) be economical in the completed structure. ;The present invention has been devised with the general object of providing a space frame in which the node 10 connections satisfy these requirements. ;Accordingly, the invention resides broadly in a space frame of the type having an upper grid of longitudinal chord members and lateral chord members, a lower grid of longitudinal chord members and lateral chord members and 15 diagonal struts interconnecting nodes at chord intersections of the two grids, characterized in that at each node: one chord member overlies the other, ;an end of each strut extending from the node is interposed between the said chord members, 20 the said strut ends being in adjacent, non- ;superimposed, relationship, and each one of the said strut ends is individually secured by a connector member passed through the said strut end and through the chord members above and below the said 25 strut end. ;~3~ ;L20FEBI984 ;*/ 199420 In the drawings FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic plan and elevation views respectively of a section of a flat double-layer space frame, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of the space 1 99420 • frame encircled at 3 in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of 5 the space frame encircled at 5 in FIG. 1.

The double-layer flat grid space frame illustrated is built up of longitudinal chord members 10 and lateral chord members 11 interconnected to form an upper square grid; longitudinal chord members 12 and lateral 10 chord members 13 interconnected to form a lower square grid; and web diagonals or struts 14 fixed between the upper and lower grids.

All the cord members 10, 11, 12 and 13 are of fairly light gauge channel sections, their parallel flanges 15 15 having edge portions 16 turned through right angles towards each other, the channels of the longitudinal and lateral chord members of each of the upper and lower grids being oppositely directed so that the webs 17 of the crossing members are towards each other.

Each of the diagonal struts 14 is of fairly light gauge steel tube, having both end portions flattened, as indicated at 18, the two flattened ends being bent, in opposite directions, through an acute angle to the axis of the main unflattened part of the strut, so 25 that the two flattened end portions 18 are parallel. -5T_ 1 9942 Both sides of each flattened end portion 18 are mitred, as shown in FIG. 4, to meet, at an extremity of the strut, at a right angle.

At each intersection in the upper grid of long-5 itudinal and lateral chord members 10 and 11 (see FIG. 5) and at each lower grid intersection of longitudinal and lateral chord members 12 and 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the two crossing members have the flattened ends 18 of four diagonal struts 14 interposed adjacently between them, four 10 bolts 19 making a secure connection at the node 20. Each of the bolts 19 passes through registering bolt holes in the longitudinal chord member, one of the interposed strut flattened end£ and the lateral chord member. As shown in FIG. 4, the abutting mitred edges of adjacent strut end 15 portions assist in imparting rigidity to the nodal connection.

At each node 20 of the lower grid, at the periphery of the grid, the connection between these two members and four diagonal struts is made similarly with four bolts.

At each of the corners of the upper grid, a 20 siggle strut 14 is connected to the junction of a longitudinal chord member and a lateral chord member, and at the other peripheral junctions of longitudinal and lateral chord members in the upper grid, two diagonal strut members 14 have their ends secured. In each of these junctions, four 25 of the bolts 19 are used, any suitable washers or like spacers 199420 (not shown) being used if desired where no strut is interposed between the chord members.

Chord members of other than the channel section illustrated may be used, for example chord members of members, for example, may be used for the diagonal struts, their ends being appropriately shaped for inter-position and bolting between crossing chord members.

A chord member may consist of two co-joined 10 parts, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where the lateral chord member 13 is composed of two parts joined at the node in correct lineal alignment, each of the two parts being secured to the longitudinal chord member 12 by two of the bolts 19. n top-hat" section, or angle members; and angle-iron

Claims (4)

19 9 4 2 0 What I claim is:

1. A space frame of the type having an upper grid of longitudinal chord members and lateral chord members, a lower grid of longitudinal chord members and lateral chord members, and diagonal struts interconnecting nodes at chord intersections of the two grids, characterized in that at each node: one chord member overlies the other, an end of each strut extending from the node, is interposed between the said chord members, the said strut ends being in adjacent, non-superimposed relationship, and each one of the said strut ends is individually secured by a connector member passed through the said strut end and through the chord members above and below the said strut end.

2. A space frame according to claim 1 and further characterized in that: the longitudinal chord members and lateral chord members of each grid are channel sections oppositely arranged so that their webs are towards each other.

3. A space frame according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and further characterized in that: each of the diagonal struts is a tube with its ends flattened, and 19942 the two flattened ends are substantially parallel, being bent in opposite directions through similar angles. 2 or 3 wherein: each of said strut ends is formed with mitred side edges, and side edges of adjacent strut ends abut to prevent turning of the struts about the connector members. 5. A space frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 . A space frame according to any one of claims 1, datec