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AssigneeTechnische Universitat Clausthal
InventorsJuri Estrin, Norbert Müller, Detlef Trenke, Arcady Dyskin, Elena Pasternak
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The invention relates to a structure assembled from elements, the elements forming an entity with topological interlocking. To improve structures of this type, the invention proposes a self-supporting structure comprising hollow, tublar element (1), which are put together with parallel axes to form an interlocking entity without any binder as a composite layer, in which the element (1), respectively lying only loosely against one another with linear contact, are held together by a frame (2) or the like extending around the element structure and determining the flexural elesticity of the structure by its own restraining force, each of the elements (1) having a circular middle cross section (3) starting from the circumference of which the generated convex half-surfaces of the element (1), go over in a smoothly curved manner to the two element ends, the edge contour (4) of which repectively has the form of a flat ellipse having pointed major-axis vertices (5), the major axes (7, 8) of which, lying normal to the longitudinal axis (6) of the element, are turned by 90° with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis (6) of the element, the axial ratio of the two ellipse axes (7, 8) in a cross section lying normal to the longitudinal axis (6) of the element increasing continuously from the center of the element (1) respectively to its ends.
A self-supporting structure comprising hollow, tubular elements, which are put together with parallel axes to form an interlocking entity without any binder as a composite layer, in which the elements, respectively lying only loosely against one another with linear contact, are held together by a frame extending around the element structure and determining a flexural elasticity of the structure by its own restraining force, each of the elements having a circular middle cross section starting from the circumference of which generated convex half-surfaces of the element go over in an smoothly curved manner to element ends, the edge contour of which respectively has the form of a flat ellipse having pointed major-axis vertices, the major axes of which, lying normal to the longitudinal axis of the element, are turned by 90° with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis of the element, the axial ratio of the two ellipse axes in a cross section lying normal to the longitudinal axis of the element increasing continuously from the center of the element respectively to its ends.
A method of manufacturing self-supporting structures having interlocking hollow elements lying loosely against one another with linear contact and no binding material, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.