Tapered spiral welded structure
AssigneeKeystone Tower Systems, Inc.
InventorsEric D. Smith, Alexander H. Slocum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.
Claims17
A stock material comprising:
- a strip of planar material, the strip of planar material having a plurality of first straight edges and a plurality of second straight edges, each first straight edge defining a respective section of a first stepped spiral, and each second straight edge defining a respective section of a second stepped spiral, wherein each first straight edge of the first stepped spiral is parallel to a respective second straight edge of the second stepped spiral, wherein the plurality of first straight edges and the plurality of second straight edges are collectively dimensioned such that the strip of planar material is formable into a tapered structure in which the first stepped spiral adjoins the second stepped spiral.
A stock material comprising:
- a plurality of planar sections, each planar section having a first edge and a second edge different from the first edge, wherein the plurality of planar sections is dimensioned such that, in a first planar configuration, the first edges of the plurality of planar sections are spaced apart from and aligned with one another, each second edge of each planar section is in a point contact with the respective second edge of another planar section, and each pair of planar sections in point contact with one another defines a respective triangular space therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.