Multiple node junction structure
Multiple node junctions have at least two nodes sharing an axis. Each node includes a node adaptor-mounting-surface at an angle Θ relative to the axis. An adaptor mounted to each node at the angle Θ relative to the axis uses an adaptor node-mounting-surface and at least one adaptor beam-mounting-surface. A beam having one or more adaptor-mounting-surfaces is mounted to the adaptors using beam adaptor-mounting-surfaces so that the beam is mounted at the angle Θ relative to the axis. The length of each adaptor corresponds to the spacing between each adaptor node-mounting-surface and its matching adaptor beam-mounting-surface. The lengths of the first and second adaptors are selected to accommodate the angle Θ. A framework, for example a free form glass wall or the like, can be created using a plurality of multiple node junctions according to embodiments of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the following:
U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/742,469 (Attorney Docket No. 1302-p01p) filed on Dec. 05, 2005, entitled MULTIPLE NODE JUNCTION STRUCTURE, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot applicable.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to methods, systems and apparatus for erecting and supporting structures of various types, especially structures using what is commonly referred to as “free form” structures.
2. Description of Related Art
Various techniques and apparatus have been developed for constructing two-dimensional and three-dimensional frameworks and structures that permit free form shapes and configurations. Frequently, wide spanning yet lightweight structures can be assembled for roofs, halls, atria, domes and the like.
Earlier connection systems joined two or more structural members (trusses or beams). All of those connections were realized by means of two node elements. The first node element is connected to the “top” fiber of the member and the second node element is connected to the “bottom” fiber of the member. These arrangements ensured a rigid connection of all structural members connected to each other by means of a minimum of two node elements. Those connections between the structural members could transfer normal forces and shear forces, but also significant bending moments. However, those connection systems had a limited adaptability of the angle between the axis through the two nodes and the longitudinal axis of the structural member (described as angle Θ, below).
Other connection systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,475, entitled JOINT-ADAPTER FOR DOUBLY CURVED LATTICE GIRDERS, IN PARTICULAR SINGLE-LAYER TYPES, issued Mar. 21, 1995. These connection systems use a single, hollow node element, typically of cylindrical form. The angle between the node axis and the longitudinal axis of the structural member (that is, angle Θ) can be adapted in a wider range than some earlier systems. However, the transferable bending moment is limited by the relatively small height of the structural member.
Other design systems require special machining of the interconnecting beams (for example, creating stepped or multi-level beam-mounting-surfaces) and various other components. These node connection systems also use one or two node elements. As before, the angle between the node axis and the longitudinal axis of the structural member (angle Θ) can be adapted in a wider range than some earlier systems. However, this range (only 80° to 100°) is too limited for the requirements of modern free-form structures.
Systems, methods and techniques that improve upon earlier design systems and allow more variation and greater angular displacement of support beams, while still maintaining a lightweight structure and overcoming the shortcomings of earlier systems would represent a significant advancement in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARYEmbodiments of the present invention include multiple node junctions having first and second nodes sharing an axis. The first node includes a node adaptor-mounting-surface at an angle Θ relative to the axis. An adaptor mounted to the first node uses an adaptor node-mounting-surface and at least one adaptor beam-mounting-surface. The adaptor node-mounting-surface engages the node adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the adaptor (for example, using a bolt or other mounting means) at the angle Θ relative to the axis. The second node likewise has a node adaptor-mounting-surface at the angle Θ relative to the axis. Similarly, a second adaptor is mounted to the second node and uses an adaptor node-mounting-surface and at least one adaptor beam-mounting-surface. As with the first node's structure, the second adaptor's node-mounting-surface engages the second node's adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the second adaptor at the axis angle Θ.
A beam having one or more generally planar adaptor-mounting-surfaces is mounted (for example, by welding) to the first and second adaptors using the beam adaptor-mounting-surface(s) so that the beam is mounted at the angle Θ relative to the axis. The length of each adaptor corresponds to the spacing between each adaptor node-mounting-surface and its matching adaptor beam-mounting-surface. The lengths of the first and second adaptors are selected to accommodate the angle Θ. A beam extension can be used to accommodate other/further mounting surfaces. A framework, for example a free form glass wall or the like, can be created using a plurality of multiple node junctions according to embodiments of the present invention.
Further details and advantages of the invention are provided in the following Detailed Description and the associated Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:
The following detailed description of the invention will refer to one or more embodiments of the invention, but is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, the detailed description is intended only to be illustrative. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to the Figures is provided for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.
As described in more detail below, a multiple node support structure uses two or more nodes at the junction of two or more beams mounted thereto for supporting various structures. The multiple node junction structure uses node-mounting-surfaces and adaptors to permit beams connected to a junction to be mounted at various angles relative to one another and/or the nodes. The result is a support structure that is relatively lightweight and flexible, yet extremely strong and durable. It is usable in a variety of settings, including free form structures that require dramatic changes in support structure orientation with minimal structural intrusion into the design.
More specifically, a number of improvements can be realized using embodiments of the present invention. The angle between the node axis and the longitudinal axis of the structural member (that is, angle Θ) can be adapted to a much greater range. No machining of the node cavity is required. The stepped beam ends and corresponding differences in adaptor lengths require only minimal machining of connection faces at the nodes. However, no handling of the whole beam for machining operations is required because the adaptors can be produced very accurately and are then only welded to the beam ends.
One embodiment of the multiple node junction structure 100 of the present invention is shown in
Nodes 110, 120 and the like can be created using a standard blank, as shown in
As seen in
As seen in more detail in
Specific mountings of adaptors to beams are shown in
As seen in
Mounting of beams to nodes is shown in detail in
In
As shown in more detail in
The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the written description, and thus, the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation as illustrated and described. Therefore, the described embodiments should be taken as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention should not be limited to the details given herein but should be defined by the following claims and their full scope of equivalents, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable now or in the future.
Claims
1. A multiple node junction comprising:
- a first node and a second node, wherein the first and second nodes share an axis;
- the first node comprising a first node adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the first node adaptor-mounting-surface is at an angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a first adaptor mounted to the first node, the first adaptor comprising: a first adaptor node-mounting-surface; and a first adaptor beam-mounting-surface; wherein the first adaptor node-mounting-surface engages the first node adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the first adaptor at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- the second node comprising a second node adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the second node adaptor-mounting-surface is at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a second adaptor mounted to the second node, the second adaptor comprising: a second adaptor node-mounting-surface; and a second adaptor beam-mounting-surface; wherein the second adaptor node-mounting-surface engages the second node adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the second adaptor at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a beam having a generally planar adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the first adaptor and the second adaptor are mounted to the beam adaptor-mounting-surface so that the beam is mounted at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- further wherein the length of the first adaptor corresponds to the spacing between the first adaptor node-mounting-surface and the first adaptor beam-mounting-surface; and
- further wherein the length of the second adaptor corresponds to the spacing-between the second adaptor node-mounting-surface and the second adaptor beam-mounting-surface;
- further wherein the first adaptor length and the second adaptor length are selected to accommodate the angle Θ.
2. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein the beam further comprises a beam extension mounted to the beam adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the beam extension comprises a first beam extension adaptor-mounting-surface and a second beam extension adaptor-mounting-surface;
- further wherein the first adaptor further comprises a first adaptor extension mounting surface mounted to the first beam extension adaptor-mounting-surface; and
- further wherein the second adaptor further comprises a second adaptor extension mounting surface mounted to the second beam extension adaptor-mounting-surface.
3. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein the first and second adaptors are welded to the beam.
4. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein the first node comprises a plurality of adaptor-mounting-surfaces and further wherein the second node comprises a plurality of adaptor-mounting-surfaces corresponding to the first node plurality of mounting surfaces.
5. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein the first adaptor is mounted to the first node adaptor-mounting-surface using a bolt; and
- further wherein the second adaptor is mounted to the second node adaptor-mounting-surface using a bolt.
6. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein each adaptor comprises a cavity for accessing means for mounting the adaptor to one of the nodes.
7. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein Θ is from about 60° to about 120°.
8. The multiple node junction of claim 1 wherein each node is generally toroidal in shape and has a tapped hole for each adaptor mounted to the node.
9. A framework comprising a plurality of multiple node junctions, wherein each multiple node junction comprises:
- a first node and a second node, wherein the first and second nodes share an axis;
- the first node comprising a first node adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the first node adaptor-mounting-surface is at an angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a first adaptor mounted to the first node, the first adaptor comprising: a first adaptor node-mounting-surface; and a first adaptor beam-mounting-surface; wherein the first adaptor node-mounting-surface engages the first node adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the first adaptor at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- the second node comprising a second node adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the second node adaptor-mounting-surface is at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a second adaptor mounted to the second node, the second adaptor comprising: a second adaptor node-mounting-surface; and a second adaptor beam-mounting-surface; wherein the second adaptor node-mounting-surface engages the second node adaptor-mounting-surface to mount the second adaptor at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- a beam having a generally planar adaptor-mounting-surface, wherein the first adaptor and the second adaptor are mounted to the beam adaptor-mounting-surface so that the beam is mounted at the angle Θ relative to the axis;
- further wherein the length of the first adaptor corresponds to the spacing between the first adaptor node-mounting-surface and the first adaptor beam-mounting-surface; and
- further wherein the length of the second adaptor corresponds to the spacing between the second adaptor node-mounting-surface and the second adaptor beam-mounting-surface;
- further wherein the first adaptor length and the second adaptor length are selected to accommodate the angle Θ.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 7, 2007
Applicant: Novum Structures LLC (Menomonee Falls, WI)
Inventors: Soeren Stephan (Thuengersheim), Ian Collins (Sarasota, FL)
Application Number: 11/487,113
International Classification: E04B 7/08 (20060101); E04H 12/00 (20060101);