Solar collector module

A connection at a node of a space frame truss, the connection comprising:

• a hub having a rectangular main portion and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of protruding tabs, each tab having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the distal ends of the outer sides, wherein at least two tabs protrude from one side of the rectangular main portion, and wherein each of the tabs has a respective plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the respective tab, and each of the planes of symmetry includes the longitudinal axis of the main portion;
• a first generally tubular elongate frame member having a constant cross sectional shape along its length, the first frame member comprising two generally flat sides defining a portion of the cross sectional shape of the first frame member and at least one joining side that extends between the two generally flat sides for closing the first tubular frame member cross sectional shape, wherein a portion of the first frame member joining side at an end of the frame member is removed such that the two generally flat sides protrude beyond the remainder of the first frame member, wherein the two flat sides of the first frame member and the two outer sides of a first one of the plurality of tabs are cooperatively sized such that the two protruding flat sides of the first frame member fit over the first tab;
• a second generally tubular frame member;
• and
• at least two connectors fixed to the second frame member via fasteners to form a frame member assembly, the connector protruding from an end of the second frame member and including at least one feature for assembling the connector to a second one of the plurality of tabs.

A connection at a node of a space frame truss, the connection comprising:

• a hub having a main portion and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of protruding tabs for joining a plurality of frame members at the node, each of the protruding tabs having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the distal ends of the outer sides, the hub having a substantially constant cross section along its length, wherein at least two tabs protrude from one side of the rectangular main portion, and wherein each of the tabs has a respective plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the respective tab, and each of the planes of symmetry includes the longitudinal axis of the main portion;
• a tubular frame member;
• and
• at least one connector fixed to the frame member via fasteners to form a frame member assembly, the connector protruding from an end of the frame member and including at least one feature for assembling the connector to one of the plurality of tabs.

A three-dimensional structural frame, comprising:

• a set of upper nodes defining an upper surface, the upper nodes arranged in generally longitudinal rows;
• a set of lower nodes defining a lower surface, the lower nodes arranged in generally longitudinal rows;
• a plurality of substantially rigid elongate struts, wherein each node in the upper surface is connected to at least one node in the lower surface by at least one of the plurality of struts;
• at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member extending to at least two nodes in a particular row of nodes, the chord member having a substantially constant cross sectional shape throughout its length, the chord member further comprising at least one strut connection feature such that any strut connecting to any node reached by the chord member connects directly to the chord member without the use of a hub;
• and
• wherein the strut connection feature comprises at least one tab protruding from the chord member, the tab extending along the chord member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chord member, the tab having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the outer sides.