Systems and methods for joining space frame structures
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorMichael R. Eller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strut-and-node truss design that is applicable to all space frame structure designs can be made with using robotic (semi-autonomous and/or fully autonomous) or telerobotic assembly/joining. Nodes can include a 2-dimensional weld path in an effort to reduce the complexity of having to weld in 3-dimensions. Furthermore, each strut to node connection can be concentrated in a small area where each weld can be performed robotically from a fixed position that only requires the robotic weld head to swivel in a small operating window to reach each joint.
Claims20
A truss structure comprising:
- a node member comprising:
- a main body;
- annular grooves each extending from an outer periphery of the main body toward an interior region of the main body, wherein the interior region defines a void within the main body;
- and
- weld surfaces each facing the interior region, covering an interior end of a corresponding one of the annular grooves, and being opposite the outer periphery, wherein all of the weld surfaces face in directions that converge at a work point;
- struts, wherein each of the struts is inserted into a corresponding one of the annular grooves;
- and
- weld nuggets each on a corresponding one of the weld surfaces and extending to a corresponding one of the struts.
A truss structure comprising:
- a node member comprising:
- a main body;
- annular grooves each extending from a periphery of the main body toward an interior region of the main body;
- and
- weld surfaces each covering an interior end of a corresponding one of the annular grooves, wherein all of the weld surfaces face in directions that converge at a work point;
- struts, wherein each of the struts is inserted into a corresponding one of the annular grooves with a terminal end at the interior end of the corresponding one of the annular grooves;
- and
- weld nuggets each on a corresponding one of the weld surfaces and extending to a corresponding one of the struts.
A method comprising:
- inserting struts into corresponding annular grooves of a node member with terminal ends of each of the struts at an interior end of the corresponding one of the annular groove, the node member comprising weld surfaces each covering the interior end of a corresponding one of the annular grooves, wherein all of the weld surfaces face in directions that converge at a work point;
- aligning a weld device at a work point;
- and
- while the weld device is aligned at the work point, welding at each of the weld surfaces to weld each of the struts to the node member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.