Joining techniques for large structures
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorJohn Mockovciak, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A construction technique is disclosed for facilitating the rapid assembly of large structures at remote sites, both terrestrial and extra terrestrial, comprising joining modular sub-assemblies embodied as triangular trusses in a limited number of standardized interconnecting modes to form final structures, the construction technique utilizing modular interconnecting members for facilitating the rapid joinder of the sub-assemblies in one or more of these modes.
Claims33
A truss assembly for facilitating the construction of large space structures comprising:
- (a) at least two modular sub-assemblies assembled in at least one of a limited plurality of standardized cross and platform interconnecting arrangements, each of said modular sub-assemblies being comprised of at least one triangular truss comprised of a plurality of longerons and a plurality of battens interconnecting said longerons, and
- (b) at least one modular interconnecting member interconnecting said triangular trusses in said standardized interconnecting arrangements, said at least one modular interconnecting member being disposed between said triangular trusses and being comprised of at least one connecting joint comprised of a plurality of separate, but readily mated fittings, at least one of said fittings further comprising a plurality of tabs straddling at least one of said longerons and a plurality of said battens of at least one of said triangular trusses for attachment to said at least one triangular truss.
A base-to-base cross arrangement truss structure comprising:
- (a) a first triangular truss,
- (b) a second triangular truss orthogonally overlapping said first triangular truss, and
- (c) a plurality of modular interconnecting members interconnecting a first base of said first triangular truss to a second base of said second triangular truss, the plurality of modular interconnecting members comprising:
- (1) a first quadrapod structure comprising four first legs joined together at one end to form a first juncture, and extending outwardly from said first juncture so as to form a first pyramid type structure,
- (2) a second quadrapod structure comprising four second legs joined together at one end to form a second juncture, and extending outwardly from said second juncture so as to form a second pyramid type structure,
- (3) a first connecting joint comprising a first fitting attached to said first juncture, and of a second fitting attached to said second juncture, said first and second fittings being mated together to form said first joint thereby causing said first quadrapod structure and said second quadrapod structure to be in opposed relation to each other, and
- (4) eight second connecting joints, each connecting joint comprising a mated pair of fittings comprising a third fitting attached to either of said first or second bases of said structural members, and a second fitting attached to one of said first or second legs comprising said first and second quadrapod structures.
A base-to-apex cross arrangement truss structure comprising:
- (a) a first triangular truss,
- (b) a second triangular truss, and
- (c) a plurality of modular interconnecting members interconnecting a base of said first triangular truss to an apex of said second triangular truss, the plurality of modular interconnecting members comprising:
- (1) a quadrapod structure comprising four legs joined together at one end to form a juncture and extending outwardly from said juncture so as to form a pyramid type structure,
- (2) four first connecting joints, each comprising a first pair of mated fittings having a first fitting attached to the base of said first triangular truss, and a second fitting attached to one of said four legs of said quadrapod structure, and
- (3) a second connecting joint comprising a second pair of mated fittings having a third fitting attached to the apex of said second triangular truss, and a fourth fitting attached to the juncture of said four legs of said quadrapod structure.
Modular interconnecting members for interconnecting at least two triangular trusses in cross arrangements comprising one or more connecting joints comprising a male fitting mated with a female fitting, each of said fittings having a plurality of tabs, each tab straddling a longeron and a batten of said triangular trusses and conforming in shape to the shape of said batten.
Modular interconnecting members for interconnecting at least two triangular trusses in tribeam or platform arrangements comprising:
- (a) a plurality of connecting joints each comprising a multi-fitting female fitting mated with a plurality of individual male fittings, said female fitting having a plurality of tabs, each tab straddling a longeron and a batten of said triangular trusses and conforming in shape to the shape of said batten;
- (b) a plurality of vertical structural members attached on each end to one of said individual male fittings;
- and
- (c) a plurality of diagonal structural members lying diagonally between adjacent vertical structural members and attached on each end to one of said individual male fittings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.