DK145724B - COLLABLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRID CONSTRUCTION - Google Patents

Description

in 145724

The invention relates to a three-dimensional grid structure consisting of a series of connecting links and a series of rectilinear, mainly rigid rod-like elements interconnected by the links, and forming planar or spatial polygons with an equal number of sides, and wherein the grid structure can collapsed into a bundle whose length is substantially equal to the length of a single rod-like element.

In contrast to a foldable three-dimensional grid structure which can be taken apart without being destroyed, the grid structure according to the invention is "truly collapsible." By this it is to be understood that the structure in the collapsed and collapsed condition continues to form one continuous whole, even whether it is still removable, ie. that the elements of the structure continue to be interconnected, although the structure has a substantially altered shape and scope that has been significantly reduced.

A three-dimensional lattice construction of the type initially referred to is described in a publication by R. Buckminster Fuller in "World Design, Science Decade 1965-1975", World Resources Inventory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA, 1963, page 51-52, as well as in a dissertation by Robert W. Marks, 25 "The Dymaxion World of Buckminster Fuller" (Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1960, p. 195).

In this known lattice construction there is a ball joint for every three rods, through which these rods have their one end joined to a tripod. Each bar group consisting of three rods is similar to a three-legged camera stand and a ball joint as a tripod head, and the free ends of all three-legged legs are connected to each other in groups, each with five or six three-legged legs. ball joint. The connecting rods thus connected are initially joined to a bundle in which the rods are parallel to one another. Each tripod head has a small mast which can be automatically moved outward from the tripod head by means of a piston which can be displaced in a cylinder. The cylinders are filled with a pressurized gas through which all tripod head masts can be moved outwards. Each of the mast tips is connected via a cable to the foot ends of the associated tripod, so that the tripod legs spread as the mast moves outward. If all masts are moved outward simultaneously, the grid structure is set up automatically, whereby the triangular mesh formed by the cables takes the form of a regular geodetic, spherical 10 mesh, which prevents the legs of the tripods from spreading more apart than necessary to form a dome or sphere shape.

In the known grid construction, the problem has first and foremost been the problem of how to set up a three-dimensional grid structure automatically.

On the other hand, it is unclear how to secure the structure in its erected condition and how to fold it again. The securing of the respective tensioned lattice structure can be secured by pneumatic or mechanical means. Using the former, one must close the gas cylinders and assume that all cylinders, pistons, and other sealing sites are sufficiently gas tight to hold the masts in their outward-moving position during the time of construction. Since a 25 such assumption is not very realistic, as a second pneumatic solution, only a permanent connection between the structure and a sufficiently large pressure gas source is left. However, this solution is even more inconvenient and just slightly less uncertain than the first 30 solution. Thus, one has only to use mechanical solutions, of which there are of course a large number. In principle, such a mechanical solution in the form of e.g. a locking device is operated manually, e.g. by pushing a pin into a cross hole in the mast thereby preventing its back slipping after the gas pressure has been reduced. A more elegant solution is a resilient snap device which prevents the outward moving mast from retreating again.

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Whichever solution you choose, you must release such locking devices or stops manually in succession before you can collapse the grid structure again. Since it is not possible to collapse tripod 5 by tripod in order to achieve a controlled collapse of the structure (as opposed to a "disaster" collapse), this is a very serious problem if the known construction was intended at all to erect and fold it again several times.

During the collapse of the structure, the pistons must again be pressed into the cylinders, and these may, if necessary, be re-connected with a pressurized gas source. In particular, the cables used are for nuisance 15 during the collapse in the sense that, under this, one must be extremely aware that the cables do not lie in any shape about parts of the structure and become suspended when the structure is rebuilt. The collapse procedure is in any case cumbersome and time-consuming.

The invention has for its object to design the grid structure initially referred to in such a way that it becomes self-supporting in its erected condition and that it can be collapsed quickly and easily.

In order to achieve this, the construction according to the invention is characterized in that the connecting links are designed so that only a part of the rod-like elements can move with more than one degree of freedom - at least to a certain extent - relative to their associated links. whereas the other rod-like elements can only move in one plane relative to their associated joints, and that the connecting joints have guide and stop or stop means which are interconnected with the joints and which unambiguously determine the angular position of the grating structure. their associated rod-like elements both in relation to each of the other rod-like elements and in relation to the center axis of symmetry of the joints.

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The term "degree of freedom" used in the foregoing refers to any of the six possibilities for movement of a moving body relative to a fixed coordinate system, ie. three translations in parallel 5 with the coordinate axes, and three rotations about these axes.

As will be apparent from the following, the design according to the invention achieves a lattice construction which, with its polyhedral structure - formed by planar or spatial polygons with 2 n sides, where n represents an integer, 10 positive number - has significant technical advantages.

Due to its geometry and the design of the connection joints, the grille construction is self-supporting in its clamped condition and requires no support mast or tension rope for this purpose. Thus, there are no protruding cable-like fasteners which, under certain conditions, can form coils and nodes, thereby interfering with the grid structure. In the structure, the rod-like elements, hereinafter simply referred to as rods, mutually support each other, and the stability of the structure 20 in the clamped condition is ensured by the connecting joints, hereinafter simply referred to as joints, depending on the outer shape of the grating structure, curved surface. In the tensioned state of the structure, the rods which are connected to a portion of the 25 joints are pivoted more than 90 ° from the position they occupy in the collapsed state of the structure, ie. that the footings of the rods, which at the main side are connected to IT and the same link, do not lie in a plane with this link, since these links must be pressed through the plane which is clamped by the footpoints of the bars connected with said link before these abuts the associated stop or stop means and thereby occupies a defined angular position. When passing the joint in question through said clamped plane, the respective footings of the rods must be further removed from each other than is allowed due to their geometry-defined position on the curved surface. This means that at least the joint, which is finally brought into its correct position during the tensioning of the structure, can only - under the utilization of some elastic deformation of the entire grid structure and during the exercise of a certain force - be pressed through the tension of the rods of the rods. level. Conversely, during the collapse of the structure, the same force is required to push the joint again through the plane of the pole ends of the rods. Consequently, there is no risk of the structure automatically sinking.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the grid-10 structure of the invention is not only very simple to clamp, but just as easy to collapse again.

To this end, the rods, overcome by the aforesaid elastic resistance, are first brought into the joints, after which the "spatial zigzag" pattern thus formed is compressed progressively until the rods are substantially parallel to each other and form a compact bundle.

Since each of the bars included in the grid structure has only two joints, the grid structure can be considered as a single-layer structure, or in another embodiment forming a double-layer grid and the double-layer, respectively. In other words, all joints are located on a e.g. domed or cylindrical curved surface, or in another embodiment is located on two such concentric or coaxial surfaces with slightly different radii.

Although the lattice structure is self-supporting, at least some of the joints may have locking members which either form integral parts of the joints or are detachably disposed thereon. However, such locking or stiffening elements serve only to absorb external concentric or random influences, such as from shock or throwing wind. These locking means can be placed within seconds of the construction of the structure and put back into operation before its collapse. The construction or collapse of the structure requires a total of only a few minutes, and this time is not substantially increased by the possible use of additional locking or stiffening elements. Thus, the sum of the set-up and collapse time constitutes only a very small fraction of the predicted useful life of the construction, which is a condition for the useful use of collapsible structures for the purposes of the invention envisaged.

With regard to the geometry of the lattice structures of the invention, it should be noted that the basic shapes underlying these structures are predominantly spherical or cylindrical. In the latter case, the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical sheath surface, which also constitutes the axis of the grid structure, can either extend parallel to or perpendicular to the ground. Cylindrical constructions with a vertical axis of symmetry can be terminated at their upper end by the application of a pyramid whose symmetry is equal to the symmetry of the cylindrical grid structure. Thus, the total number of rods connected by an appropriate number of joints forms a spatial lattice structure which essentially follows the underlying basic shapes. It 20. actual number of rods necessary for a particular embodiment of the invention is either equal to the ideal number of rods prescribed by the theoretical form of the lattice structure or is different from this ideal number, whereby in the latter case one must either remove or adding one or more rods to create an approach to the structure or to create connecting openings or passageways between several of these structures or any combination thereof. However, it should be noted that in each case the grid structure 30 is designed so as not to add structural elements during its arrangement or to remove such elements during its collapse.

A further feature of the lattice construction according to the invention consists in that - in order to form a complex construction - it is possible to connect the lattice structure to one or more corresponding lattice structures of any shape.

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The proposed grid structures require no support elements inside or outside the space they enclose, and they can be anchored to the ground as well as with or without tension cords.

5 The lattice structures may carry at least one flexible cover which may be attached to the interior or exterior of the structure. Several deck covers may also be found, some of which may be attached to the inside of the structure and others to its outside. The lattice structure can be collapsed and / or erected together with the deck coverings or coverings. Alternatively, the tire cover (s) may also be affixed to the structure according to its arrangement, or the cover (s) or cover (s) may be removed from the structure prior to its collapse. The coverings may consist of any flexible material, such as fabrics of natural, artificial or mixed fibers. However, as a cover material, a rigid or semi-rigid sheet material such as a metallic material, plastic material, paper or mineral material may also be used. In the latter case, the plates can be connected to each other and to the structure by means of e.g. cords, glue, welding, riveting and / or by means of appropriately arranged and formed connecting means such as hooks, hooks, rings, clamping means or snap means.

The lattice structures of the invention can e.g. used as tents and bungalows for excursions, as stand-alone stands at exhibitions, as first aid stations and emergency hospitals, as temporary storage and transportable sheds and as temporary barracks.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, simple schematic and preferred embodiments. 1 is a plan view of a dome-like structure according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 8; 3 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of a rod-like element; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a special design of a ball joint connector; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a ball joint connector; FIG. 6 shows a connecting link of the pivot fork embodiment; FIG. 7 is a composite structure obtained by joining two constructions of FIG. 1, 10 FIG. 8 is a continuous bundle of rod-like elements obtained by completely collapsing the structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of the construction according to the invention with a different geometry, seen from above and from the side respectively.

In addition to the general form of a particular embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 and 2 also indicate the exact location of all rod-like elements, hereinafter simply referred to as rods, and connecting joints, hereinafter simply referred to as joints. Thus, the reference numbers 1 denote the rods, while the reference numbers 2 denote the links. The various types of these rods and joints are identified as follows by added letters.

Fig. 1A: A rod with both ends of tap embodiment, IB: A rod with one end of tap embodiment and one end of ball embodiment; Figs. 3, 2A: A link of pin fork embodiment, which takes up five bars 1A, 30 2B: A link of pin fork embodiment, which takes up three bars, fig. 6, 2C: A joint of ball bearing design which receives five rods, fig. 4, 2D: Joints located on the ground. Because of their geometry, these joints are essentially of 2C design except that each joint only accommodates three rods, the central rod being in the meridian plane of the spherical construction does not need the freedom of movement of a ball joint and therefore may be of tape execution.

A special embodiment of an inlet opening shown in FIG. 2 is marked by an arrow, delimited by joints and rods 2D {j-1A (j-2B) (j-lBD-2C (j-lBd-2Bd-lAj-2i ^). Each of the joints 2Dd and 2Cd occupies a rod less than the corresponding indices without index.

The rod, which can be either hollow or solid, and which may consist of any suitable material, such as ferrous or non-ferrous metals, plastics, wood or any combination of such materials, is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 illustrating a preferred embodiment. The bar comprises a main portion 3 having its one end connected to a spherical end portion 4 forming the ball in a ball pin connection, and its other end connected to a flat tongue 5 which forms the tap member of a pin fork joint. A pivot pin 6 is attached to the tongue 5.

20 A particular embodiment of a ball bearing embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 and consists of two halves 7 and 8 constituting the main parts of the joint, a lock washer 9, a T-shaped nut 10 which serves to clamp down the lock washer 9, a bolt 11, a head 12 having a hook-like shape and serves to retain a cladding and ϋ-shaped incisions comprising a stop or stop member 13 and guide 13a and serves to determine the position of the rod relative to the joint when the construction is completed. An end 14 of such a rod is plotted in dotted line. Weighted folding of the structure, after the locking disc 9 is removed, the rods of the rods may initially only move in one plane, being still between the parallel walls of the U-shaped notch 13a constituting guide, but then as soon as the ball necks have come out of this incision, the rods and main part 3 of the joint will be able to perform the composite relative movements required for joining and placing the rods side-by-side to form the one shown in FIG. 8, compact, bundle-like shape. In setting up the structure, the ball necks can freely follow the composite, not necessarily symmetrical, forces until they come into contact with the guide 13a, which ultimately facilitates insertion into the U-shaped incision where the movements of the ball necks are finally stopped by the stop surfaces 13.

Another embodiment of a ball bearing embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. Here, the locking device is formed integrally with the joint and consists of a cup-shaped part 15 which is pivotally mounted on one of the main halves and formed with a series of slots 16 on the circumference. In the open position of the locking device, these slots 16 will allow insertion and embedding of the ball necks in U-shaped locating incisions 16a. Grip tabs 17 facilitate the rotation of the locking cup 15, and this rotation causes the cut-out outlet 16b to be blocked, preventing the ball necks from leaving the respective incisions.

A preferred embodiment of a joint of the fork fork embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the rods can only move in one plane, the guide slots 19a having substantially the same width as the thickness of pin 22. In this embodiment, the two halves 18 and 19 are held together by a bolt 20 having a hook-shaped head 21. The taped 22 of the rod 23 shown in broken lines 25 is formed with a pivot pin 24 which is pivotally mounted in one of the two halves of the joint. The bottom 18a of the guide slots 19a in the upper half 18 serves as a stop or stop.

In FIG. 7 are two dome-like structures according to FIG. 1 composed for a larger and more complicated construction. Here, the basic structures are designated 25 and 26, respectively, and the connecting means 27 and 28, respectively.

A bundle of interconnecting rods obtained by completely collapsing the structure of FIG.

1 is shown in FIG. 8. The closely folded rods are substantially parallel to each other in the folded position, and some of the joints are at the top of the bundle and some at its bottom. In the example shown, the cladding is removed prior to collapsing the structure, although this is not necessary in practice.

Another embodiment of the proposed lattice structures is shown in FIG. 9 and 10. This is a basically cylindrical structure with vertical axis of symmetry and the structure is closed at the top by means of a pyramid.

In the following, a preferred set-up procedure for the embodiment of FIG. 1 and 2 of the invention.

1. The bundle of parallel bars shown schematically in FIG. 8, is lowered to the ground so that the rods occupy a generally vertical position with the joints 2D of ball bearing design in contact with the ground.

2. The five joints 2D (Fig. 8), located at the periphery and in contact with the ground, are pulled outward in a radial direction as far as they can be moved, giving the structure a spider-like appearance.

3. One of the persons working with the construction of the structure, hereinafter referred to as "Construction Worker", then lifts the two upper bars IB (Fig. 2), which delimit the entrance opening, whereby another construction worker can occupy his space below the now partially drawn out construction.

4. The second building worker then lifts the central link 2A and holds it high, while the first construction worker pulls the peripheral 5-element link 2C (comprising the 4-element link 2C ^ (Fig. 2) for the entrance opening outward.

5. The five joints 2D (Figures 1 and 2) which are in contact with the ground are manually tilted outward as far as they can be moved and the locking washers 9 (Fig. 4) are now fitted to each of the five joints 2C of ball bearing design , after these joints are first pulled outward, until all the ball necks are properly aligned with the stops or stops 13 (Fig. 4), in the respective incisions. The locking discs 9 are then fitted with the slots 9a (Fig. 4) and finally the locking discs are rotated approx. 90 °. The structure is now erected and can be anchored to the ground, if required.

The merge procedure, which is essentially a reverse procedure over the set-up procedure, proceeds as follows.

5 1. The five lower links 2D (Figs. 1 and 2) on which the lattice structure stands are tilted or pivoted until, with their locking plane, located substantially perpendicular to the middle of their three bars, 2. The locking plates 9 (Figs. 4) removed - after a 10 turn of approx. 90 ° - from joints 2C.

3. The central link 2A (Figs. 1 and 2) is pulled downwardly, whereby the upper pyramid of the grid structure is turned inward. During this and the subsequent folding steps, first all and later at least some of the 15 rod ends - due to the special design of the joints - are still at an angle in one or two planes. This means that due to the slight impact, respectively, of the deformation occurring during the inward rotation of the inward-folding pyramid, sufficient friction will be produced so that this inward turn, i.e. collapse may occur in a controlled manner and not in the form of a complete collapse of the structure.

4. The other pyramid tips that fold inward are reversed as they are pressed inward, thereby providing a control effect here as well.

5. The now spider-like, substantially collapsed construction is then formed to form a bundle of practically parallel bars by firing all five "spider legs" toward the center.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, one of the main features of the construction according to the invention consists in the special design of the joints with their associated engagement, guide and stop and stop means, respectively, which enable the respective ends of the rods to be supported. different degrees of freedom are determined, both relative to each other and to the central axis of symmetry, through the vertices of the joints formed by the joints, so that the special angular position of

Claims (2)

Each bar within the overall grid structure is defined and constrained by the overall geometry. This means that the structure not only becomes self-supporting in the set position, since it can also be set up and folded in the shortest time. A three-dimensional grid structure consisting of a series of connecting links (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) and a series of rectilinear, substantially rigid rod-like elements (1A, 1B) interconnected by the links (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D), forming planar or spatial polygons with an equal number of sides, and wherein the lattice structure can be collapsed into a bundle whose length is substantially equal to the length of a single rod-like element (ΙΑ, IB) characterized in that the connecting links (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) are designed so that only part of the rod-like elements IB) can move with more than one degree of freedom - at least to a certain extent - relative to their associated joints (2C, 2D), while the other rod-like elements (1A) can only move in one plane relative to their associated joints (2A, 2B) and the connecting joints (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D) have guide 25 and stop or stop means (13, 13a; 16, 16a; 18a, 19cj) which are connected to the joints (2A, 2B, 2 C, 2D), and which in the finished position of the grid structure uniquely determines the angular position of their associated rod-like elements (1A, 1B) relative to each of the other rod-like elements (1A, 1B) as well as to the median axis of symmetry (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D). Grid construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of rod-like elements (1A, 1B) which is theoretically necessary for the current form of the grid structure can be increased or decreased by one or more rod-like elements (1A, 1B).