Tapered spiral welded structure
AssigneeKeystone Tower Systems, Inc.
InventorsEric D. Smith, Alexander H. Slocum
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims9
A tower comprising:
- a sheet formed as a frusto-cone having a base and a top, wherein the base has a first diameter,
- the top has a second diameter less than the first diameter of the base,
- the sheet has a first edge and a second edge coupled to one another along a spiral seam extending from the base to the top and centered about a center axis defined by the frusto-cone,
- the sheet has a plurality of cross-seams intersecting the spiral seam,
- consecutive cross-seams of the plurality of cross-seams are spaced apart from one another by progressively decreasing distances along the spiral seam in a direction from the base to the top of the frusto-cone, and
- each cross-seam of the plurality of cross-seams has the same length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.