Strut structure and rigid joint therefor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
InventorJames E. Potzick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A highly rigid structure is provided using six struts connected at three er and three lower nodes to upper and lower support structures. The joint assemblies are formed by half-spherical balls attached to the ends of each of the struts, and retained within cylindrical apertures, such that the center lines of the struts intersect at the nodes. Bending loads on the struts are thus eliminated, while the design and construction of the structure is substantially simplified.
Claims15
A joint assembly for transmitting axial loads from two elongated struts meeting at a node to a supporting member, comprising:
- two strut end members, one connected to each of the struts, for receiving axial loads from the corresponding strut, each strut end member comprising a half-spherical ball having a planar surface for contacting the planar surface of the other of said balls, such that an assembly of said two strut end members defines a substantially complete sphere, the centerlines of said elongated struts intersecting at the center of said substantially complete sphere, and
- means fixed with respect to said supporting member and defining a recess having a circular periphery, for receiving and retaining said substantially complete sphere defined by the assembly of said two strut end members.
A support structure for supporting a first component of a complete assembly with respect to a second component thereof, comprising at least twelve strut end members, and at least six struts each having one of said strut end members affixed to either end thereof for receiving axial loads from the corresponding strut, each strut end member comprising a half-spherical ball having a planar surface for contacting the planar surface of the other of said balls, such that an assembly of said two strut end members defines a substantially complete sphere, the centerlines of said elongated struts intersecting at the center of said substantially complete sphere, and six members defining recesses having a circular periphery for receiving and retaining the substantially complete spheres defined by six assemblies of pairs of said strut end members, three of said members for receiving being fixed with respect to said first component of a complete assembly, and the remaining three of said members for receiving being fixed with respect to said second component of said complete assembly.
A structure for defining the relative positions of first and second components of an assembly, comprising:
- first and second groups of node members, at least three of said node members being fixed to each of said first and second components, each of said node members defining a recess defining a circular periphery adapted to receive and retain a spherical ball formed by assembly of a pair of strut end members;
- a number of elongated struts equal to the number of node members;
- and
- first and second strut end members affixed to the ends of each strut;
- wherein each of said strut end members comprises a half-spherical element defining a flat surface for contacting the corresponding flat surface of a mating half-spherical element, such that a substantially complete spherical ball is formed upon the assembly of two said half-spherical elements within said node members, and such that the axes of said elongated struts intersect at the nodes defined by said node members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.