Node for a space frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719242-B2
Application number	US-201514857959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2015
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A space frame includes a plurality of support structures and a node member configured to couple with the plurality of support structures. The node member includes a base portion, a plurality of coupling members extending from the base portion, each of the plurality of coupling members configured to couple with each of the support structures, and a plurality of clamping members configured to couple each of the plurality of coupling members with each of the plurality of support structures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A space frame comprising:
a plurality of support structures;
a node member configured to couple with the plurality of support structures, the node member comprising;
a base portion; and
a plurality of coupling members extending from the base portion, each of the plurality of coupling members configured to couple with each of the support structures; and

a plurality of clamping members configured to couple each of the plurality of coupling members with each of the plurality of support structures;
wherein each of the coupling members comprises a first connecting end and each of the support structures comprises a second connecting end, and wherein the first connecting end and the second connecting end are coupled with each other by the clamping member;
wherein the clamping member comprises:
a first clamping member disposed on a first portion of an outer surface of the support structure and the coupling member;
a second clamping member disposed on a second portion of the outer surface of the support structure and the coupling member; and
wherein each of the first and second clamping members comprises a first opening defined adjacent to the first connecting end of the coupling member and a second opening defined adjacent to the second connecting end of the support structure; and

wherein the first and second clamping members are coupled with the coupling member using a welding material, wherein the welding material is received within the first opening.

2. The space frame of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coupling members is welded to the base portion.

3. The space frame of claim 1 , wherein the first and second clamping members are coupled with the support structure using the welding material, wherein the welding material is received within the second opening.

4. The space frame of claim 3 , wherein the first and second clamping members are coupled with the coupling member using a welding material, wherein the welding material is deposited around a periphery of the first and second clamping members.

5. The space frame of claim 1 , wherein the first clamping member includes a length, wherein the first portion of the outer surface of the coupling member is engaged by a first half of the length of the first clamping member and the first portion of the outer surface of the support structure is engaged by a second half of the length of the first clamping member.

6. The space frame of claim 5 , wherein the second clamping member includes a length, wherein the second portion of the outer surface of the coupling member is engaged by a first half of the length of the second clamping member and the second portion of the outer surface of the support structure is engaged by a second half of the length of the second clamping member.

7. The space frame of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures are oriented in angular positions with adjacent support structures of the plurality of support structures to distribute stress in the space frame.

8. The space frame of claim 7 , wherein angular positions of each of the plurality of coupling members about the base portion are defined based on the angular positions of each of the plurality of support structures.

9. An apparatus for defining a node for a space frame, the apparatus comprising:
a node member;
a plurality of clamping members, each of the plurality of clamping members including a first clamping member and a second clamping member, each of the first clamping member and a second clamping member including a first opening and a second opening;
the node member including:
a base portion; and
a plurality of coupling members extending from the base portion, each of the plurality of coupling members configured to couple with each of a plurality of support structures of the space frame; and

the plurality of clamping members configured to couple each of the plurality of coupling members with each of the plurality of support structures;
wherein each of the plurality of coupling members includes a first connecting end and each of the plurality of support structures includes a second connecting end, and wherein the first connecting end and the second connecting end are coupled with each other by a first clamping member disposed on a first portion of an outer surface of the support structure and the coupling member, and a second clamping member disposed on a second portion of the outer surface of the support structure and the coupling member; and
wherein the first and second clamping members are coupled with the coupling member using a welding material, wherein the welding material is received within the first opening of the first and second clamping members defined adjacent to the first connecting end of the coupling member and the second opening of the first and second clamping members defined adjacent to the second connecting end of the support structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of coupling members is welded to the base portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of support structures are oriented in angular positions with adjacent support structures of the plurality of support structures to distribute stress in the space frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein angular positions of each of the plurality of coupling members about the base portion are defined based on the angular positions of each of the plurality of support structures.

13. A method of assembling a space frame, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of support structures, each of the plurality of support structures including a connecting end, an outer surface, a first portion of the outer surface of the support structure, and a second portion of the outer surface of the support structure, the first portion and second portion adjacent to the connecting end of the support structure;
providing a node member including:
a base portion; and
a plurality of coupling members extending from the base portion, each of the plurality of coupling members including a connecting end, an outer surface, a first portion of the outer surface of the coupling member, and a second portion of the outer surface of the coupling member, the first portion and second portion adjacent to the connecting end of the coupling member;

providing a plurality of clamping members, each of the plurality of clamping members including a first clamping member and a second clamping member, each of the first clamping member and a second clamping member including a first opening and a second opening;
aligning the connecting end of each of the plurality of coupling members with the connecting end of each of the plurality of support structures;
coupling each of the plurality of coupling members with each of the plurality of support structures with the plurality of clamping members by disposing the first clamping member on the first portion of the outer surface of the coupling member and the support structure and disposing the second clamping member on the second portion of the outer surface of the coupling member and the support structure; and
depositing welding material within the first opening of the first and second clamping members defined adjacent to the connecting end of the coupling member and the second opening of the first and second clamping members defined adjacent to the second connecting end of the support structure.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising depositing welding material within the second opening of the first and second clamping members defined adjacent to the second connecting end of the support structure.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Bell Jacob W
• Forthofer Glenn A

Classifications

• E04B2001/1975

  Frameworks where the struts are directly connected to each other, i.e. without interposed connecting nodes or plates · CPC title

• E04B2001/1972

  Welded or glued connection · CPC title

• E04B1/19 Primary

  Three-dimensional [3D] framework structures · CPC title

• E04B1/185

  Connections not covered by E04B1/21 and E04B1/2403, e.g. connections between structural parts of different material · CPC title

• E04B1/1903 Primary

  Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor · CPC title