US 7,607,646 B2Granted

Tower/frame structure and components for same

AssigneeComposite Cooling Solutions, L.P.

InventorsJames A. Bland, Jesse Q. Seawell, Dustin L. Troutman, Shane E. Weyant, Charles J. Bardo

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Abstract

A tower/frame structure of interconnected columns and beams (which may be used in a cooling tower) and novel columns, beams, connection mechanisms and other components are provided. In one embodiment, a column and a beam are constructed of pultruded composite fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials. The beam includes two sidewall extensions or flanges (each having one or more attachment apertures) at one end and which are integral with the beam for connection to the column (having one or more corresponding attachment apertures). The dimension/spacing between the inner walls of the two flanges substantially equals or is slightly larger than the outer dimension of the column. The attachment holes are aligned and a fastener is inserted through the extensions and column for attaching the column and beam. The C-shaped end of the beam substantially conforms to the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the column. Additional plastic components, such as a firewall and toe/trim member, for use in a cooling tower are also provided.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A support structure comprising:

an elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, comprising,
a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and
at least one aperture extending through the column and through the first side and the second side of the column;
an elongated beam comprising,
a first end and a second end,
a first side having a first outer surface and a second side having a second outer surface, with the first outer surface extending along a first plane between the first end and the second end and the second outer surface extending along a second plane between the first end and the second end,
a first flange having a first aperture and an outer surface and extending outward from the first end of the beam, the outer surface of the first flange also extending along the first plane, the first flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture aligns with the aperture of the column,
a second flange having a second aperture and an outer surface and extending outward from the first end of the beam, the outer surface of the second flange also extending along the second plane, the second flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture aligns with the aperture of the column;
and
a fastener extending through each of the first aperture, the second aperture and the aperture in the column, operable for coupling the beam to the column.

7 more elements

A method of constructing a support structure, the method comprising:

providing an elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, the column having a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and at least one aperture extending through the column and through the first side and the second side of the column;
providing an elongated beam having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side with the first side having a first outer surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a first plane and the second side having a second outer surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a second plane, a first flange having a first aperture and a first outer flange surface and extending outward from the first side of the beam along the first plane, and a second flange having a second aperture and a second outer flange surface and extending outward from the second side of the beam along the second plane;
positioning the first flange adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture aligns with the aperture of the column;
positioning the second flange adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture aligns with the aperture of the column;
and
extending a fastener through each of the first aperture, the second aperture and the aperture in the column to couple the beam to the column.

3 more elements

A support structure comprising:

a first elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, comprising,
a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and
at least one aperture extending through the first column and through the first side and the second side of the first column;
a second elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, comprising,
a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and
at least one aperture extending through the second column and through the first side and the second side of the second column;
an elongated beam comprising,
a first end and a second end,
a first side having a first outer surface and a second side having a second outer surface, with the first side extending between the first end and the second end in a first plane and the second side extending between the first end and the second end in a second plane,
a first flange having a first aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the first flange also extending outward from the first end of the beam in the first plane, the first flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the first column such that the first aperture of the beam aligns with the aperture of the first column,
a second flange having a second aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the second flange also extending outward from the first end of the beam in the second plane, the second flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the first column such that the second aperture aligns with the aperture of the first column,
a third flange having a third aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the third flange also extending outward from the second end of the beam in the first plane, the third flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the second column such that the third aperture aligns with the aperture of the second column, and
a fourth flange having a fourth aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the fourth flange also extending outward from the second end of the beam in the second plane, the fourth flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the fourth aperture aligns with the aperture of the second column;
a first fastener extending through each of the first aperture, the second aperture and the aperture in the first column, operable for coupling the beam to the first column;
and
a second fastener extending through each of the third aperture, the fourth aperture and the aperture in the second column, operable for coupling the beam to the second column.

13 more elements

A support structure comprising:

an elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, comprising,
a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and
at least a first aperture and at least a second aperture positioned substantially horizontal to each other and extending through the column and through the first side and the second side of the column;
a first elongated beam comprising,
a first end and a second end,
a first side having a first outer surface and a second side having a second outer surface, with the first outer side extending along a first plane between the first end and the second end and the second outer side extending along a second plane between the first end and the second end,
a first flange having a first aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the first flange also extending outward from the first end of the first elongated beam along the first plane, the first flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture of the first flange aligns with the first aperture of the column, and
a second flange having a second aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the second flange also extending outward from the first end of the first elongated beam along the second plane, the second flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture of the second flange aligns with the first aperture of the column;
a first fastener extending through each of the first aperture in the first elongated beam, the second aperture in the first elongated beam and the first aperture in the column, operable for coupling the first elongated beam to the column at a first point;
a second elongated beam comprising,
a first end and a second end,
a first side having a first outer surface and a second side having a second outer surface, with the first outer side extending along a first plane between the first end and the second end and the second outer side extending along a second plane between the first end and the second end,
a first flange having a first aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the first flange also extending outward from the first end of the second elongated beam along the first plane, the first flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture of the first flange aligns with the second aperture of the column, and
a second flange having a second aperture and an outer surface, the outer surface of the second flange also extending outward from the first end of the second elongated beam along the second plane, the second flange positioned adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture of the second flange aligns with the second aperture of the column;
and
a second fastener extending through each of the first aperture in the second elongated beam, the second aperture in the second elongated beam and the second aperture in the column, and operable for coupling the second elongated beam to the column at a second point that is positioned adjacent and substantially horizontal to the first point.

13 more elements

A method of constructing a support structure, the method comprising:

providing an elongated column having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, the column having a first side having an outer surface, a second side having an outer surface, a third side and a fourth side, and at least a first aperture and at least a second aperture extending through the column and through the first side and the second side of the column;
providing a first elongated beam having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side with the first side having a surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a first plane and the second side having a surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a second plane, a first flange having a first aperture and a first outer flange surface and extending outward from the first side of the beam along the first plane, and a second flange having a second aperture and a second outer flange surface and extending outward from the second side of the beam along the second plane;
positioning the first flange adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture of the first elongated beam aligns with the first aperture of the column;
positioning the second flange adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture of the first elongated beam aligns with the first aperture of the column;
extending a fastener through each of the first-aperture in the first elongated beam, the second aperture in the first elongated beam and the first aperture in the column to couple the first elongated beam to the column;
providing a second elongated beam having a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side with the first side having a surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a first plane and the second side having a surface and extending between the first end and the second end along a second plane, a first flange having a first aperture and a first outer flange surface and extending outward from the first side of the beam along the first plane, and a second flange having a second aperture and a second outer flange surface and extending outward from the second side of the beam along the second plane;
positioning the first flange adjacent the outer surface of the first side of the column such that the first aperture of the second elongated beam aligns with the second aperture of the column;
positioning the second flange adjacent the outer surface of the second side of the column such that the second aperture of the second elongated beam aligns with the second aperture of the column;
extending a fastener through each of the first aperture in the second elongated beam, the second aperture in the second elongated beam and the second aperture in the column to couple the second elongated beam to the column;
and
wherein the first elongated beam and the second elongated beam are positioned substantially in a same horizontal plane.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/804,711Filed 18 May 2007 · continuation
Priority: 13 Sep 2004
Published: US 2008/0028714 A17 Feb 2008
Granted: 27 Oct 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

E04C 3/28
Joists; Girders, trusses, or trusslike structures, e.g. prefabricated; Lintels; Transoms; Braces: of materials not covered by groups E04C3/04 -…
E04H 5/12
Buildings forming part of cooling plants: cooling towers
F28F 25/00
Component parts of trickle coolers
E04B 2001/2418
Connection details of the elongated load-supporting parts: details of bolting

Family

Application60/609,300Us provisional application · filed 13 Sep 2004
Application11/216,752Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Aug 2005
US 2008/0028714 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Feb 2008
US 7,275,734 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2006/0053727 A1Published application
US 7,607,646 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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