US2097597A

US2097597A - Cellular structure

Info

Publication number: US2097597A
Application number: US36761A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pavlecka John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-08-19
Filing date: 1935-08-19
Publication date: 1937-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-11-02

Description

2, 1937. J. PAVLECKA CELLULAR STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 19, 1955 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIZCE 26 Claims.

My present invention relates to a structure comprising sheet material and linear members in a novel combination. 7

Among the objects of my invention is, first, to provide an inexpensive, light and strong construction for such purposes as walls, floors, wings of aircraft, and girders.

A further object is to devise a closed structure which can be assembled easily with a minimum of riveting. V 4

Another object is to devise a structure of great strength and least weight in which pre-fabflcated spars of sheet material cooperate with linear stress members in load carrying.

A still further object is toprovide a retaining structure, such as a wall in a house, which is built up of a number of individual box elements of sheet material with linear insulating members confined between the elements.

These and other objects and aims of my -invention are materialized, in a general way, by producing a number of individual tubular cells or spars of sheet material, all of them being alike if the resulting structure is to be symmetrical about at least one plane; or, they may be of divers shapes and varyingsizes if the structure is to be irregular in contour wherein each cell or spar occupies a predetermined position. The spars are preferably fabricated with flanged perforations in their sides for lightness and increased stiifness, and furthermore, for accessibile ity of the interior in riveting the seam of the spars and assembling them into the structure in the manner disclosed hereinfurther.

The spars are integrated into unity by being lined up alongside one another so that their side Webs will either abut on or will confront each other at a close distance, and between spars so disposed are confined or wedged linear members, or stringers, or struts or filler strips, as the case may be, preferably in such a manner that the spars will clinch the linear members between them directly at the exterior of the structure whereby the members will function as spacers be tweenthe spars and will provide a portion of the exterior surface of the structure between them.

The manner of retaining the spars and the linear members in entity may be varied, to suit individual preference, the most expedient method, though not the only one here proposed. being to rivet the spars together with the rivets passing through and retaining the linear members in-, between them.

The principle of integrating stressed bodies of a plurality of tubular spars viii- Q linear stress or the structure. V e 7 this structure include the shape of the spars 5 insvlatieg emb r c n ne e w en. the n the manner above disclosed, yields itself to a considerable variety of modifications emin ets r ain. mpe w h w n w be described with reference to the drawing forming an inte :ral part of this specification. In, the

drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a'transverse cross section through a structure of uniform depth and comprising generally rectangular spars 'with linear mb r clamped e wee t e r o ers.

Fi i imila ossect on, rou h a Structure e 9 r an ular ars o s osed to one anoth er that they form sockets between tween then in a manner analegous to that of Fig. l.

4 esen s see, of he. linear members a the shoulders of the spars engaging same as well as the rivets" tying the, spars together, shown on n i d' ea e; ap ain n to the t u ur of Fig. l2 I "Figs. 5 and 6 are approximately full-,si zesec-v tional reproductions, Oi the linear members and their vicinity of Figs. 3 and 2, respectively, and

disclose exemplary methods of retaining the linear members in place andt he spars in unit The same numerals in difierent figures desige nate identicalcomponent parts.

All of the struetures shown in the dravvingare.

distinguished by certain fatures generic to all e of them, ar d by others characterizing each ndi vidual e e i e b t, qua y W a p icable s the rest of them.

The genericfeatures distinguishing the struc tureof Fig. l reside'iin the individually fashioned tubular spars or elements 5 to}, andin the linear members 9 confined between them in such a.

manner that the sparshave a retaining and restraining hold on them, thus reinforcing them against failure under strain, and being. in turn,

reinforced by thejmembers by virtue of the latters strategic location at the exteri r surfacesof The individual characteristics of and provides. portion of the exteriorsurface of th .5trnct r The spars 5 to 8, all alike, have each two sides I and 2 substantially parallel, and with these sides provide the major portion of the exterior of the structure; the spars have, furthermore, two side webs 3 and 4 which are shown as being, by way of example, arched inwardly whereby their stiffness against buckling is materially increased. The side webs 3 and 4 are perforated with flanged openings l2 which provide access into the spars during their fabrication andon their assembly, and further add stiffness to the side webs. The spars 5 to 8 are spaced from each other so that a cavity results between each two confronting side webs 3 and 4, which cavity is relatively narrow at the corners l0 and II of the spars. but

wide in the interior as thearched webs 3 and 4 bow away from each other.

and II of each two confronting spars, the struts or linear members 9.

.The linear members 9 are either solid or hollow and have recessed flanks closely conforming in profile to the'corners l9 and II, and have a flat surface flush with the exterior surface of the structure cfwhich they provide a part. The material of which the members 9 are made may be either extruded or rolled metal for strength and rigidity. or, if the structure is to serve as a wall, they may be molded of fibrous substances or of rubber so as to reduce heat transfer, deaden noise and exclude moisture.

In their extreme location at the exterior of the structure the members 9, when made of rigid material, provide effective reinforcing means for the spars 5 to 8 in all conditionsof loading, i. e., endwise, beamwise and chordwise, and are in turn constrainedagainst buckling by the clamping grip that the stiff corners l0 and H have on them. Moreover, when considered with the joining means as disclosed presently between the spars Ste 8 and the members 9, it will be seen that both the spars and the members cease to exist as individual and independent elements, and instead, the structure resolves itself mechanically as well as functionally into a series of stress girders, each consisting of two linear members 9 and truss webbing 3 and! between them, while the exterior sides of the spars connect and steady the girders. a Y

A simple manner of assembling the spars 5 to 8 and the linear members 9 is represented in Fig. 4, wherein spars 6 and I, representative of any two adjacent spars of l, clinch between them the member 9, and are conjoined with this member and Witheach other by means of rivets 35 inserted in place through the flangedperforations l2. These perforations can have any shape, such as round or triangular, and should be alined in confronting sides but can be overlapped or staggered'in opposite sides, as insides 3 and 4 of spar 6 of Fig. -1, for purposes of providing uniformly easy access for riveting tools for all rivets, particularly those between successive perforations; I v

Fig. 2 is another embodiment of my invention wherein the shape of the spars !-3 to I6 is different from thatin- Fig; 1, as is the manner of retaining the linear members in place. The spars l3 to H5 are triangular with well-defined apices l0 and ll at the exterior surface, and with a truncated apex: l8 away from it. The spars are interposed so that allupright ones, l3 and I5, jointly form one side of the structurewhile the complementary inverted spars l4 and I6 form the opposite side; the upright and the in- In this cavity are lodged, at and between the rounded corners m verted spars abut one onto each other along a portion of their sides whereby the converging apex portions land I l of each two upright spars l5 and 13, respectively, in conjunction with the truncated apex I8 of the inverted spar l4 therebetween jointly define a sheath, socket or cavity in which is confined the linear wedge member H. The overhanging apex portions of all inverted spars in conjunction with the blunt apices of the upright spars form similar cavities at the opposite side of the structure.

The linear members ll are triangular in profiletofill in closely the cavity formed by the spars, and are retained in place by the converging apex portions l0 and H of these spars, as illustrated on an approximately full-size scale in Fig; 6. 'In this figure is also shown an exemplary mode of assembling the spars, residing Referring now to Fig. 3, the airfoil structiue represented herein has its curvilinear contour derived from a plurality of substantially triangular cells or spars or elements l9 to 25, each of which constitutes a predetermined sector in .the airfoil. This structure is a combination of thepreviously disclosed two embodiments in that it makes use of triangular spars like those of Fig. 2, joined together in the manner of those of Fig. 1. Similarly as in Fig. 2, the upright spars I9, 2 I, 23, and

25 provide one side of the structure while the inverted

spars

20, 22 and 34 provide the opposite side. The spars forming one side as well as the intermediate spars forming the other side are distanced from each other, thereby forming gaps or crevices at the exterior of the structure and a series of diagonal trusses with spaced double webs in its interior. At the extreme point of each truss, in the crevice formed by each two spars associated at one side, is lodged the rigid linear member 25; a this member is employed wherever two diagonal trusses meet at one crevice,

while in the end trusses at the terminal spars l9 and 25 members 9 are used, such as shown in Fig. 4.

A detail view of the linear members 26 and the manner of .confining them between the confronting spars 29, 2|, and 22 is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this particular assembly the

spars

23 and 22 defining one exterior surface are characterized by profiled, such as rounded, corners l9 and II respectively, between which corners is clinched the member 26; the profile of this .member has recessed sides so as to fill up completely the crevice between the corners l6 and II and to form a smooth continuation of the exterior surface between the respective spars. The

spars

20 and 22 are held together preferably through the instrumentality of rivets 35 which join the spars at the point where they are closest to each other, i. e., in their .apices, and at the same penetrate through the linear members 26 and clinch them securely between the spars.

The profile of the linear members 26 is furdiate spar 2|. For this purpose there is secured,

aware? in spaced relation in the apex 21, a number of clinch nuts 34, which nuts are in alinement with and engage the screws 33 that penetrate through members 26 from the exterior of the structure.

It willnow be seen that the sparsv l9, 2|, 23, and 25, all constituting one side of the structure, can be joined conveniently, on assembly, into a unit by means of rivets 35 made accessible through the opposite flanged holes l2 therein; the

spars

20, 22 and 24 constituting the other side are likewise riveted together into a sub-assembly through the aligned flange holes therein, and then the two opposite and complementary rows of spars with the members 26 between them are intermeshed and joined together by means of screws 33 driven in from the exterior. The members 9- are riveted in place through an open end in the structure or through holes for ailerons, tanks, lights, controls, etc., in the leading and trailing spars l9 and 25 of the Wing.

I claim:

1. A cellular structure comprising, tubular cellsof sheet material having side walls forming jointly wedge-shaped gaps therebetween, tying means joining said cells through said, side walls thereof, and linear wedges inserted in said gaps, retained therein by said walls and constrained against dislocation by the clinching action of said Walls due to said tyingmeans.

2. A cellular structure composed of individual cells of sheet material having opposing side walls, said side walls of each two associated cells having angularly profiled corner portions inwardly of the surface of the structure, a linear member having angular flanks conforming to. said corner portions and being inserted therebetween, and means for joining each two associated cells to gether and thereby causing said profiled corner portions to engage said members bodily and grip them tightly against dislocation under strain.

3. A cellular structure comprising, individual tubular cells of sheet material confronting one another with protruding corners at the surface of the structure, and between said corners having side walls receding inwardly away from each other, linear members having a flared section and being inserted between said cells whereby said flared section thereof will fit between said receding side walls at and underneath said protruding corners, and means for joining said cells together and thereby retaining said members between them and causing said side walls to clamp them tightly therebetween.

4. A structure comprising, a number of individual tubular elements arranged in parallel relation and being formed with longitudinal side portions angularly inclined away from each other from the surface of the structure inwardly, linear members having a profile conforming to said angular portions of said tubular elements and being inserted therebetween, and means for con,- joining said tubular elements and thereby wedging said linear members in place and causing them to abut on said angular side portions for their support whensubject to stress.

5. A structure having a dorsal and a ventral side comprising, a number of individual tubular elements of sheet material arranged side-by-side, said elements having confronting side portions converging toward the exterior surfaces of the structure, linear members having a profile with tapering flanks corresponding to said converging side portions of each two adjacent elements and being inserted therebetween, and means for securing said tubular elements together and there- 7 3 y causing, said linear member tQ-b wed ed; eh lyhe ween sa d on e porti ns of said elements, and restrained from dislocation under strain.

6. A structure comprising, a plurality of individuals tubular elements having rounded protruding' coir-ners, said elements being arranged in parallel spaced; relation whereby a gap having convergent-divergent sides results between the corners of each twoadjoining elements, a number oflinear members, said members having a profile narrowed at center to conform to said gap,; one member being confined in each gap, and means for-'conjoining said elements into unity and thereby forcibly clamping said members between said rounded corners to prevent their dislocation under load.-

7.. A structure comprising, a number of individual tubular elements arranged. in'parallel spaced relation, and having confronting sides shaped to form constricted longitudinal gaps therebetween at the exterior of the structure, linear rigid members having a constricted profile corresponding to said gaps and being lodged apiece therein whereby said tubular elements will have a bodily engagement, with said linear members against relative motion under strain, and means passing through said linear members for conjoining said tubular elements into unity and thereby clamping said linear members firmly therebetween. r

8. A structure comprising, a number of. individual tubular elements arranged in side-byside relation and having sides forming protruding shoulders in spaced and opposite longitudinal re'-' lation to each other at the exterior of the struc-. ture, linear members having hollow flanks, said members being inserted between said shoulders of the tubular elements whereby said elements will have a. constraining hold thereon against failure under load, and means for fastening said tubular elements QSthe fl d thereby gripping, said linear members between said protruding shoulders.

9-. A'cellular structure comprising, an exterior shell of sheet material, a series ofdouble-webbed trusses integral with and extending lengthwise in said shell, said double webs of said trusses forming late-rally constricted crevices at said shell, linear members having indented sideslodged in said crevices, and tying means for joining said double; webs of said trusses together and thereby clamping said linear members firmly between them. l

10. A cellular structure comprising, tubular cells of' sheet material having side walls, said side walls of each two associated cells having.

convergent-divergent directions from the surface of the structure inwardly, linear members having a double-wedge profile lodged between said walls so that said convergent-divergent portion thereof will have .a' bodily engagement therewith, and means'fo-r tying said walls together and thereby clamping said members firmly'therebetween,

' 11. In a structure, an exterior shell substantially'all of sheet material, a series of double webbed trusses extending in said shell and being integral therewith, said trusses being inclined one, to each other; and havingthe webs thereof provided with stiffening means against buckling, a number of linear members, one of sai members being confined at the juncture of each two of; said trusses at said shell and held firmly therein by a clinching action of said webs. .12; A structure comprisin a p urality of ndividual tubular spars, said spars being substantially triangular in shape and being arranged in parallel relation longitudinally and in inverse and staggered relation transversely whereby each two alternate spars and one intermediate spar therebetween jointly define a triangular cavity at the exterior of the structure, a number of linear members having a triangular profile, one of said members'being inserted in each cavity, and means for conjoining said spars into unity and retaining said members in said cavities.

13. A cellular structure comprising, an exterior shell of sheet material, a series of double-webbed trusses integral with and extending lengthwise in said shell, said trusses being diagonally inclined toward one another and made to form jointly between the remote webs thereof, at the surface of the structure, wedge-shaped gaps, linear members having tapering sides lodged in said gaps and being retained therein by the joined near webs of said trusses, and means for securing said truss webs together and thereby clamping said members firmly between them.

14. A cellular structure comprising, a number of triangular tubular cells confronting one another along their sides in inverted'relation, each two alternate cells with one intermediate cell therebetween jointly forming a crevice with slanted sides at the surface of the structure, a linear filler strip having corresponding slanted sides occupying said crevice, and means for securing said cells together through said sides thereof and thereby constraining said filler strips in place between said slanted sides and said cell therebetween.

15. A structure comprising, a plurality of individual tubular elements having side webs and chord webs meeting in a number of apices, said side webs confronting one another and having diverging directions from said apices inwardly, two linear members confined between each two elements at said chord Webs thereof, said members having a profile conforming to said apices and said converging sides of said elements and forming a smooth portion of the exterior between said chord webs thereof, andmeans for conjoining said elements and thereby locking said members between said side webs;

16. A structure comprising, a plurality of individual tubularspars having each two side webs and two chord webs meeting in four rounded apices, said spars defining the major portion of the exterior of the structure with said chord webs thereof and confronting one another at a relatively small distance along said side webs thereof, said side webs of each spar being indented inwardly between said rounded apices and being perforated with flanged holes, a number of linear members having concave sides, one of said members being confined between said corners of each two confronting spars and between said indented walls and made to provide the portion of the exterior of the structure therebetween, and means in the interior of the structure forconjoining said spars into unity and thereby clamping said members therebetween.

17.'A structure comprising, a number of individual tubular elements arranged in side-byside spaced relation and having convex portions in opposite longitudinal relation to each other, linear members having concave flanks, said members being fitted between said convex portions of said tubular elements whereby said elements will have a constraining hold thereon against failure under load, and means for fastening said tubular elements together "and-thereby clinching said linear members therebetween. V 4

18. Astructu're" comprising, a plurality of individual tubular elements, a number of triangular linear members, and means for fastening said elements together in parallel relation, said tubular elements having sides formed so that at least each two of them jointly define one tIi: angular-cavity having one apexat the exterior of'the surface and the other two apices inwardly thereof, one ofsaid linear members being confined in'each cavity and forcibly constrained by said elements therein against dislocation under strain.

19, A cellular structure comprising, a number of tubular cells having certain corners thereof protruding and others truncated, each two of said cells approaching each other at the exterior surface of the structure with said protruding corners thereof and including one truncated corner of a third cell therebetween to form a triangular sheath, a triangular linear member conforming to said sheath and being thrust therein, and means for tying said cells together and'thereby exerting a tight hold on said member between said corners thereof.

20-. A cellular structure comprising, tubular cells of sheet material meeting one another along the surface of the structure and having sides sloping in opposite directions inwardly from said surface, other cells between said first named cells having sides conforming to said sloping sides thereof and having truncated apices therebetween, triangular linear members in the space between said'sloping sides of said first cells and said truncated apices of said second cells, and means for tying said first cells together with said second cells through said sloping sides thereof and thereby wedging said triangular members between 'said'sides and apices. v

21. A cellular structure comprising, a row of tubular triangular cells having contacting corners at the exterior of the structure and truncated'corners in the interior thereof, another row of like cells inverse to and alternating with said first row and having the sides thereof confront said first row whereby a triangular gap results between the contacting corners of two cells in one row and the truncated corner of one cell of the other row, triangular linear members inserted in said triangular gaps, and means for tying said two rows of cells together and thereby constraining said linear members between said contacting and said truncated corners of said cells.

22. A structure comprising, a plurality of individual tubular spars, said spars being substantially triangular in shape with at least two welldefined apices and being disposed inversely to each other in spaced relation whereby alternate spars will confront intermediate spars along their sides'at a relatively small distance, said well-defined apices of each two alternate spars and the intermediate spar therebetween jointly defining a crevice at the exterior of the structure; a linear member inserted in each crevice between said well-defined apices therein to provide spacing means for said spars and complemental' means tothe exterior of the structure between said spars, and means for conjoining said spars into unity and thereby clinching said members therebetween.

23. A cellular structure comprising, a number of tubular-cells having protruding corners, each three of said-cells approaching one another at the exterior surface of the structure unth said corners thereof in spaced relation and forming a constricted crevice therebetween, a linear member having three sides thereof conforming to said corners of said cells, said member being inserted in said crevice with said corners fitting in and against said three sides of said member, and means for tying said cells together through said corners thereof and through the body of said member therebetween.

24. Acellular structure comprising, a row of tubular triangular cells having alined corners in spaced relation at the exterior of the structure and their third corners away therefrom, another row of like cells inverse to and alternating with said first row and having the sides thereof confront said first row whereby a constricted gap results between said spaced corners of each two cells in one row and the third corner of a cell from said second row therebetween, linear members having tapered sides conforming to said constricted gaps and being inserted therein, and means for tying said cells in, each row with one another through said linear members therebetween, and means for tying said first row of cells with said second row through said linear members therebetween.

25. A cellular structure comprising, a row of triangular tubular cells having spaced corners from each other at the surface of the structure, linear members having recessed sides and having a groove betweenthem in the interior of the structure, said members fitting between said spaced corners of said cells and being bodily engaged thereby insaid recessed sides thereof, tying means extending through said linear members for joining said cells together in said corners thereof; another row of like cells comple menting said first row in inverted relation, said second row having corners fitting into said grooves in said linear members, and tying means extending from the surface of the structure into engagement with said grooves in said linear members. 7

g 26. In a cellular structure, a row of tubular cells having sloping sides and having spaced corners from one another at the surface of the structure, linear members fitting between said spaced corners, and means for tying said cells and said linear members together; another row of cells having sloping sides and complementing said first row in inverted relation, said second row of cells having corners protruding between each two cells of said first row toward said linear members therebetween, nuts located in said protruding 'corners'of said cells, and screw means projecting through said linear members and engaging said nuts and thereby pulling said cells of said second row into place between said cells of said first row.

1 JOHN PAVLECKA.