US2002506A - Truss structure - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1935. H. LOUD ENBACK 2,002,506

TRUSS STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l .boualenzdcl I My y 1935- H. LQUDENBACK 2,002,506

' TRUSS STRUCTURE,

Filed Nov. 3, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwmtoz 1 6 is /ZLJJouJenZarYY duct/H414 H L. LOUDENBACK TBUSS STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet, 3

lil l u olenaal Patented May 28, 1935 a IRIIS I H liamilton L. Loudenback, Sidney, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Clarence F. Loudenback, Sidney, Ohio Application "nevfi bi s, 1931', Seal" No. 572,825 4 Claims. (01. 108-23) I invention relates to a truss structure, and

t l p imarily an object of the iIIVGHtiODjO-DI'OW vide a built-up wooden structure wherein the constructive partsare arranged edgeways, crossways 5' and diagonalto their difierent strains and whereminer such parts are arranged on edge with respect to the load or stress imposed thereon.

.Eurther nore, it is an object of the inventionto provide a structure of this kindwherein all of 1d tlie constructive parts comprised therein are" at rest or, mother words, free of bending stretche ing or compressive strains until after, it has been ssed de i ed, Worki p on n e n deadloadsare superimposed thereon;

vide a wooden truss structure wherein theyariouseonstructive parts are used in their natural grownstateand wherein the various parts are assembledor built in, the structure end to end, or

endgrain, to endgrain, thereby preventing any distortion asa result of shrinkage in materials.

still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a structure of this kind comprising in. its building the use of sheathing, the sheathingmembersbeing so applied and held in place thatsaid sheathing ,members will act in rtlieirunatural shrinkage to tighten instead of. loosening due to. thefactthat certain. of the sheathing memberswill. shrink in opposite directionsfrom that of other of the sheathing members. i

Theinventionalso contemplates-a wooden truss; structure comprising upperandlovverv convex and.

concavesegments or chord members with inter.-. s posed struts, saidmembers comprising a continuother with any desired curvature required by span and height.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a truss structure of this kind wherein the sofiit or under surface of thetruss is disposed onradiistruck from two points slightly'above-and to" the right and left of the point or center from which is struckthe curvatureiofthe outer-sur-v face of the top segments or. chord membersat vide a, truss structure wherein theiparts are so. constructed and assembled that all live anddead load strains imposed thereon, either, by comi iizis $i ap b inaare coun racted by;-

6 the'various parts or members built in the truss An additionalobject of the inventionis to pro ous :arched structure adapted to be supported from one supporting pier or foundation to the structure due to the fact that such parts or members are disposed at different angles re1a, tive to eachbther which results in a truss struc ture having a. self contained, rigid and firm, un V yielding structure and which construction a1'so, 5' brings the truss under the slow burning class of wood truss construction. l i

The invention consists in. the details of construction and in. the combination and arrange-t ment of the several parts of my improved truss 10 structure whereby. certain important advantages are, attained and the device rendered simplenless expensiveand otherwise more convenient and ad vantageousfor use, as will be hereinafter more fully set f orthp The novel. features of ,my invention will hereinafterbe definitely claimed... a Y In order that my invention-may be the better understood, I will now proceed to, describe; the samewith reference to the accompanying draw- 2 ings, whereinra .1 Figure l is a fragmentaryrview partly in secs tion and. partlyinelevation illustrating a truss structure constructed inaccordance with an embodimentof myinventiori; a 2 Figure '2- is a; fragmentarydiagrammatic view indicating the," radii for the different curvatures of the structure;

Figure 3 isan enlarged fragmentary: sectional viewitaken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig- 30 I l 1 l I Figure i is enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure Eigure 5,is.afragmentary. sectional view taken 35 ant a on t e n fiwfi o Fi r Figure a sectional yiewtaken substantially Figure {I .isa sectional view taken substantially on theline, '|-1 oflFigurefi i i I In Figurestl andZ-the-truss structure as illustra ted.pomprisesslightly more than one half. of. the length of such structure; It-is to beunderstood, however, thattheopposite end portions of .therstructure are similar and, therefore, it is be 45 lieved that. the illustration .made by Figures 1 and 2 is sufiicientfor the. purposes of disclosure.

My ,truss structure as herein disclosed a com prises tWoch rds A.and B, and each; of these. chordscomprises the segments 1 and 2 .respectively, The, segments of each of the chords cone stitute timbers of desired dimensions-and cut. from wood in its naturalstate in desiredform and with its grain runninglengthwise'thereofso; that when adjacent segments I or 2 are arranged in assembled relation they are in butting contact with the grain of the segments end to end. These segments do not have to be of any material length but, on the contrary, I find it of particular advantage to produce such segments from short lengths thus materially reducing the cost of production.

The joints 3 of one of the chords are staggered with respect to the joints of the second chord thus assuring the segments of one of the chords being in effective lapping relation with the segments of the other chord so that said chordsA and B from end to end will be substantially the same as if constructed from continuous pieces of material. The segments and 2 of the chords A and B respectively have interposed therebetween the diagonally disposed and crossed bracing or reinforcing struts or buck-staying members the extremities of which being nailed or otherwise effectively secured or anchored tothe opposed surfaces of the chords A and B.

It is to be particularly noted that each strut or member in this construction of the truss herein disclosed extends from an end portion of a segment of one chord to approximately the center of an adjacent segment of the second chord thus assuring effective binding or holding together of the chords A and B. It is also to be noted that each of the struts or buck-staying members 4 is of a thickness equal to the thickness of the chord Y members A and B and that they are arranged end to end and in butting contact. Each strut or member 4 is also in the same plane as the chords A and B.

As is particularly illustrated in diagrammatic I Figure 2, the central part of the outer surface of the upper or top chord A is disposed on a radius struck from a desired point a midway of the ends of the truss structure. The solfit or under surface of the lower or bottom chord B L at its central portion is disposed on radii struck from the points I) and c at desired distances above and to the right and left of the point a, the points I) and 0, however, being equidistantly spaced with respect to the vertical radius from the point a. The portion of the sofiit or under surface of the chord B to one side of the Vertical radius of the central portion of the truss is struck from the point, such as b, to the opposite side of the vertical radius while the portion of the soilit or under surface at the opposite lthus increasing the strength of each leg or one-v half of the truss'structure against cross bending and which strength is most needed to prevent spreading of the structure.

Each end portion of the truss may be disposed on such curvatures as deemed most effective and,

as illustrated in diagrammatic Figure 2, the outer surface of the top chord A is struck from a point d positioned a desired distance inwardly of the I adjacent end of the truss and above the horizontal while the soflit or under surface of the inner or bottom chord at the adjacent end portion is on a radius struck from the point e spaced a desired distance above but in vertical alignmentwith the point cZ.

The chords A and B, in addition to the struts 4, are tied or held in desired assembled relation by the sheathing nailed or otherwise attached to the opposite side faces of the segments I and 2 of the chords A and B respectively and also nailed or otherwise anchored or secured to the struts 4. The members 5 of these sheathings are diagonally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the truss with the members 5 of the sheathing at one side being reversely disposed with respect to the members 5 of the sheathing at the opposite side. These members 5 are preferably disposed on an angle of fortyfive degrees with respect to either the horizontal or vertical. This reverse arrangement of the members 5 of the sheathings at opposite sides of the chords A and B is of particular advantage in View of the fact that any shrinkage of these members 5 which may occur will result in tightening the structure instead of loosening as the shrinkage of the members of one of the sheathings will be in a direction opposite to the shrinkage of the members of the other sheathing at the opposite side. Adjacent members of each of the sheathings are preferably interlocked by the well known tongue and groove structure, as indicated at 6.

The grain of the members 5 is that of natural mill sawed lumber with the grain markings running the length of the member. There is no shrinkage in lumber except in its width and thickness and with the members 5 of one of the sheathings deployed in a direction opposite to that of the members of the second sheathing, the shrinkage of the different plies of sheathings will tend to tighten the structure.

The members 5 of the sheathings extend beyond the outer curved edge or face of the chord A and are also secured to the opposite faces of the segments 1 comprised in the ridge member R. This ridge member R extends as desired along the upper portion of the truss structure from the center thereof and also preferably consists of segments or pieces arranged end to end in butting relation and with the grain of the members also end to end. As illustrated in Figure 1, each end portion of the ridge member R is extended outward on desired curvature or otherwise as preferred and extends to a wall line post 8 to which it is nailed or otherwise suitably anchored. The sheathing associated with each of the chords A and B is also extended to afford connection'with this wall line post 8 and to the extended end portion 9 of the ridge member thus providing a rigid triangle end whereby the strength and value of the truss structure in its entirety is materially increased.

The members 5 of each of the sheathings have secured thereto the upper and lower chord or compression members A and B arranged in overlying relation with respect to the chord members A and B and coincident in design or configuration therewith. These compression members A and B are also formed of segments I. These segments each comprise a timber of desired dimensions and arranged in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth with respect to the segments or timbers I. It is to be particularly stated that the joints 3 between adjacent segments or timbers l alternate with the joints -3 between the segments or timbers l of the chords A and B. These compression members A and B also have interposed therebetween and secured to the members 5 of the sheathings the diagonally disposed crossed struts or buck-stay- 2,002,806 ing members' d' forthe same" "purpose as here inbeforeset ffofth with fespct td the st llit s l;

thickness equali to the thickness of the chords Assad- 3 andoccupy' "the same plane and these strutsormembers' 4' are alsoarra'nged endto'end man-sec s".-

related with respect 'to'the m'embe'rsi of the adjacent sheathingsfi This arrangement of these additionak sheathings,- or more particularly the members 5"; with r'espect 'to the members 5 of rstnamedfsheathing's results in--a struc-' the turewherein all of the-parts are effectively tied together to-assure a rigid and non-yielding strucmay betruethat-the truss will burn its structureis such whereby the truss will not quickly lose strengthwhen-heated.- Aconsiderable length of timemust=elapse before the truss "is burned through sufficient to cause failure) The particu lar placemen't of-thesheathin'g members 5 and 5' is such'whereby said sheathing members function in' offering resistance to' the compressive, tensile, and-cross-bendingstrainsthat occur within the truss mat-maybe created by the superimposed 10mm besupported on thetruss. I V

It isto bestaltedat-this time that thetr'uss structure can-be built on any desired curved lines from' a true circle, elliptical circle, or parabola, or'with various other curves and radii of arch form's'changing in length in accordance with the dimensions of the building and load requirements oif the*strlicture-b It is to be understood; however,

that in each offsuch instances the structure will retain the off centercurvesfor the under sur-: face or soflit" or the structure to provide a taper on-*th*e"f*urider side" of the arch to increase the resisting strength tocross bending.

It is also to be statedthat as many compression membersA and B arranged in side by side relationwith 'interposed sheathings may be em ployed as the requirements of practice may dictate.

At predetermined spaced points along its upper portion the ridge member R. and the adjacent portions of the members 5 of the sheathings are provided with upwardly opening notches or recesses ID with which interlock portions of the rafters ll, said rafters having their upper margins flush with the top faces or surfaces of the ridge member R and adjacent members 5 so that the roofing sheathing boards or members I4 may be conveniently applied. In order to increase the esthetic value of the arch structure I find it desirable under certain conditions to interpose between each of the outer sheathings 5 and the adjacent portions of the rafters II the bracket strips 15. While these brackets l5 to a considerable extent increase the strength of the roof structure suppported by the truss structure, yet these brackets I5 are of especial advantage in the formation of what may be terri ied i coves to facilitate the interibnfinish of the -wall structure as by plaster" or' other ma f term a I r if p Relative to the truss structure "properi' it has alsd" been found of advantage to tie' or cohne'cu the segments or timbers of each'o'r the chords Aand'Band the associated "compression members A' and' B by *the bolts lfiysaid bolts extending through said segments or timbers and: also through certain members! and5' of the sneatningsi 'Each 'of thebolts I6 has associated there with a coiiventional nut l1 to facilitateits maintenance'in applie'd position. a

Itis again tobe emphasized that none of the parts comprised -in*the truss structure arebent or flexed and-"that each of the various partsor members iscut'out from "the natural wood in de sired'shapejthus assuring a truss structure when completely assembled to be entirely free" of stress within itself or, in otherwords, to provide a truss" structurewhich is only subjectedto the stress imposed thereon by the load it supports.

While the sections I and 2 of the chords A and B and the corresponding sections l and 2' of the compression members A, andB have been referredto' as segments andthus implying longi' tudin'al-curvature, it is to be understood that'for all practical purposes this definition is intended toembrace'the idea of multiple straight line arch, the sections in'this'multiple straight line arch being arranged and assembled in the truss structure in the same manner'as hereinbeforedescribed with respect to the segments.

From the foregoing description it is through to be obvious that a truss structure constructed in accordance with my' invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the conven ience and facility with'which it maybe assem bled 'and operated, and'it will also be'obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the punciples' and spirit thereof and for this reason I def .not wish to be understood as limiting myseuw the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafterclaime'dr- 1. Awooden multi-plyarched truss structure comprising-spaced upper and lower chord-members,-each of said chord members comprising seg merits arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connected to the opposite faces of the chord "members and-bridging the" space therebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces of the sheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and lower chord members, said compression members also comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween, the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of the sheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the opposite side of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members connecting the chord members, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of the upper and lower chords, and additional struts interposed between and coplanar with the compression members of the upper and lower chords.

J 2. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upper and lower chord members, each of said chord members comprising segmentsarranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connected to the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging the space therebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces ofthe sheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and lower chord members, said compression members also comprising segments arranged end toend and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outerfaces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween, the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of the sheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the opposite side of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the adjacent sheathing members connecting the chord members, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of the upper and lower chords, and additional struts interposed between and coplanar with the compression members of the upper and lower chords, the struts between the chord members and the struts between the compression members being in crossed relation.

3. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upper and lower chord members, each of said chord members comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connected to the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging the space therebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces of the sheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and lower chord members, said compression members also comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween, the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of the sheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the opposite side of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the adjacent sheathing members connecting the chord members, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of the upper and lower chords, and

additional struts interposed between and coplanar with the compression members of the upper and lower chords, the struts between the chord members and the struts between the compression members being in crossed relation, the struts between the chord members and also the struts between the compression members being arranged end to end, the struts between the chord members extending from the extremities of the segments of one chord member to the central portions of the segments of the second chord memher, the struts between the compression members being similarly extended.

4. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upper and lower chord members, each of said chord members comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connected to the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging the space therebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces of the sheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and low-, er chord members, said compression members also comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween, the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of the sheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the opposite side of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the adjacent sheathing members connecting the chord members, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of the upper and lower chords, and additional struts interposed between and coplanar with the compression members of the upper and lower chords, a ridge member extending along the upper chord member, the end portion of the ridge member extending outwardly beyond the upper chord member, and wall line posts for supporting theouter parts of the extended portions of the ridge member, the sheathing secured to the opposite faces of the chord members being extended for securement to the opposite faces of the ridge member and the extended portions thereof and also the opposite faces of the wall line posts.

H. L. LOUDENBACK.

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