Rotary joint, framework construction kit, framework with rotary joints and method for manufacturing a rotary joint

A framework construction kit, comprising:

• at least one rotary joint comprising:
• a socket rod having a socket rod flange with a basically spheroid concave bearing surface at a first end;
• a housing nut encircling the socket rod and having a threaded wrenching head;
• a ball rod having a basically spheroid convex bearing surface and threaded side walls around the bearing surface;
• and
• a concave-convex sliding washer with a basically spheroid convex washer surface and a basically spheroid concave washer surface;
• wherein a diameter of the threaded side walls of the ball rod corresponds to a diameter of the threaded wrenching head of the housing nut;
• wherein a plurality of first guiding tracks are on the concave bearing surface and are oriented into a first swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the first guiding tracks into the first swivelling direction;
• wherein a plurality of second guiding tracks are on the convex bearing surface and are oriented into a second swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the second guiding tracks into the second swivelling direction;
• and
• wherein a plurality of first washer guiding tracks are on the convex washer surface and oriented into the first swivelling direction and wherein a plurality of second washer guiding tracks are on the concave washer surface and oriented into the second swivelling direction;
• and
• at least one interconnection strut connected to a second end of the socket rod of the at least one rotary joint or connected to the ball rod of the at least one rotary joint.

A framework comprising:

• a plurality of rotary joints comprising:
• a socket rod having a socket rod flange with a basically spheroid concave bearing surface at a first end;
• a housing nut encircling the socket rod and having a threaded wrenching head;
• a ball rod having a basically spheroid convex bearing surface and threaded side walls around the bearing surface;
• and
• a concave-convex sliding washer with a basically spheroid convex washer surface and a basically spheroid concave washer surface;
• wherein a diameter of the threaded side walls of the ball rod corresponds to a diameter of the threaded wrenching head of the housing nut;
• wherein a plurality of first guiding tracks are on the concave bearing surface and are oriented into a first swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the first guiding tracks into the first swivelling direction;
• wherein a plurality of second guiding tracks are on the convex bearing surface and are oriented into a second swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the second guiding tracks into the second swivelling direction, and
• wherein a plurality of first washer guiding tracks are on the convex washer surface and oriented into the first swivelling direction and wherein a plurality of second washer guiding tracks are on the concave washer surface and oriented into the second swivelling direction;
• the plurality of rotary joints attached to a plurality of bearing structures, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of interconnection struts, each connected to a socket rod or a ball rod of the plurality of rotary joints.

A method for manufacturing a rotary joint, the method comprising:

• forming a socket rod having a socket rod flange with a basically spheroid concave bearing surface at a first end using a 3D printing or additive manufacturing, AM, technique, wherein a plurality of first guiding tracks are on the concave bearing surface and oriented into a first swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the first guiding tracks into the first swivelling direction;
• forming a housing nut encircling the socket rod and having a threaded wrenching head using a 3D printing or AM technique;
• forming a ball rod having a basically spheroid convex bearing surface and threaded side walls around the bearing surface using a 3D printing or AM technique, wherein a plurality of second guiding tracks are on the convex bearing surface and oriented into a second swivelling direction, the socket rod being swivellable with respect to the ball rod along the second guiding tracks into the second swivelling direction;
• forming a concave-convex sliding washer with a basically spheroid convex washer surface and a basically spheroid concave washer surface using a 3D printing or AM technique, wherein a plurality of first washer guiding tracks are on the convex washer surface and are oriented into the first swivelling direction and wherein a plurality of second guiding tracks are on the concave washer surface and oriented into the second swivelling direction;
• arranging the concave-convex sliding washer between the socket rod flange and the ball rod, thereby slidably interlocking the first guiding tracks of the concave bearing surface of the socket rod flange with the first washer guiding tracks of the convex washer surface and the second guiding tracks of the convex bearing surface of the ball rod with the second washer guiding tracks of the concave washer surface;
• and
• after arranging the concave-convex sliding washer, threadingly engaging the threaded wrenching head of the housing nut with the threaded side walls of the ball rod, thereby housing the socket rod flange between the housing nut and the ball rod.