Abstract: The invention relates to a connective apparatus between a truss beam and another object, e.g., a second truss beam or another device, for rigidly joining the two together. The connective apparatus comprises a unitary attachment device which is connected to one of the frame elements in a truss beam. The device includes a rabbet member capable of attachment to a pair of struts of the frame element and a connector member attached to the rabbet member. A connector strut is provided for joining two or more truss beams to each other by interconnecting two nodes of the respective beams.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in a gravity-free environment is disclosed together with methods and apparatus for constructing the same. The structure, characterized by high stiffness and a precise self-determined geometry and having a prism-form with square right cross section, is constructed from a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements. The truss structure may be manually constructed from a multi-row chain of interconnected elements or from a four row network of elements. The structure may also be constructed using an automatic method wherein individual frame elements are fed from four stack support and feed units to a holding fixture having a square cross section.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in a gravity-free environment is disclosed together with methods and apparatus for constructing the same. The structure, characterized by high stiffness and a precise self-determined geometry and having a prism-form with square right cross section, is constructed from a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements. The truss structure may be manually constructed from a multi-row chain of interconnected elements or from a four row network of elements. The structure may also be constructed using an automatic method wherein individual frame elements are fed from four stack support and feed units to a holding fixture having a square cross section.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in a gravity-free environment is disclosed together with methods and apparatus for constructing the same. The structure, characterized by high stiffness and a precise self-determined geometry and having a prism-form with square right cross section, is constructed from a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements. The truss structure may be manually constructed from a multi-row chain of interconnected elements or from a four row network of elements. The structure may also be constructed using an automatic method wherein individual frame elements are fed from four stack support and feed units to a holding fixture having a square cross section.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in orbital systems and methods of constructing the same are disclosed. The structure is characterized by high stiffness and a precisely determined geometry and takes the form of an oblique triangular prism. The structure is constructed of a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements which achieve high stowage volume efficiency during transport to the construction site. In a first embodiment the truss is formed by joining the first vertex of an element to the third vertex of the next element to form a chain of elements, then sequentially joining the second vertex of each Nth element to the first vertex of the subsequent element N+2 and to the third vertex of the subsequent element N+3. Further embodiments employ an indexing and an indexing and rotating fixture.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for constructing and disassembling a triangular prism-form truss structure in spaced are disclosed. The apparatus includes a triangular prism-form construction fixture and three feed units disposed about the fixture for feeding the triangular frame elements that form the basic unit of the structure, or for removing the elements from the structure. The construction method, essentially automatic, comprises feeding frame elements to the fixture from the feed units in sequence. Fixture forward and backward movement along the fixture longitudinal axis, before and after element feeding, effects fastening of the frame elements to one another. Shifting of completed truss structure sections relative to the fixture is accomplished by periodic axial movement of the fixture. The disassembly method essentially comprises the reverse sequence of the steps of the construction method.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in orbital systems and methods of constructing the same are disclosed. The structure is characterized by high stiffness and a precisely determined geometry and takes the form of an oblique triangular prism. The structure is constructed of a plurality of substantially identical triangular frame elements which achieve high stowage volume efficiency during transport to the construction site.

Abstract: A master fitting is disclosed adapted to be subdivided into a set of vertex fittings for use in a truss structure which comprises a plurality of frame elements. Interchangeable vertex fittings with accurately aligned surfaces, slots and holes are provided at a low cost. The vertex fittings are adapted to form the frame elements with mating struts, or to form hinge joints for interconnecting groups of frame elements. The invention permits ease of assembly and quick and easy removal and replacement of a strut in the truss structure.

Abstract: A diagonal type MHD generator channel frame element, having a polygonal configuration which is preferably rectangular, is formed from two different pairs of pre-formed hollow bars, one of the pairs serving as the electrode members, while the other pair serves as the electrode-interconnecting diagonal members. The electrode members have cross-sectional profiles corresponding to that of a parallelogram while the diagonal members have rectangular cross-sectional profiles. Pre-formed coolant passages are defined within the members in an entirely enclosed manner, and the cross-sectional profiles of the passages correspond to those of the members within which the passages are defined.

Abstract: A diagonal type MHD generator channel frame element, having a polygonal configuration which is preferably rectangular, is formed from two different pairs of pre-formed hollow bars, one of the pairs serving as the electrode members, while the other pair serves as the electrode-interconnecting diagonal members. The electrode members have cross-sectional profiles corresponding to that of a parallelogram while the diagonal members have rectangular cross-sectional profiles. Pre-formed coolant passages are defined within the members in an entirely enclosed manner, and the cross-sectional profiles of the passages correspond to those of the members within which the passages are defined.

Abstract: Structures which have a wide variety of applications including that of educational toys are formed of chains of hinged three-dimensional units such as tetrahedra. The chains may be formed by folding a sheet of material.