US3925942A - Modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members - Google Patents

Modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members Download PDF

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US3925942A
US3925942A US414952A US41495273A US3925942A US 3925942 A US3925942 A US 3925942A US 414952 A US414952 A US 414952A US 41495273 A US41495273 A US 41495273A US 3925942 A US3925942 A US 3925942A
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truss
base
section
modular structure
tower
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Richard J Hemmelsbach
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SPACE AGE IND Inc
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SPACE AGE IND Inc
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B7/00—Roofs; Roof construction with regard to insulation
    • E04B7/08—Vaulted roofs
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
    • E04B1/32—Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures
    • E04B1/3205—Structures with a longitudinal horizontal axis, e.g. cylindrical or prismatic structures
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
    • E04B1/32—Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures
    • E04B2001/3235—Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures having a grid frame
    • E04B2001/3241—Frame connection details
    • E04B2001/3247—Nodes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
    • E04B1/32—Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures
    • E04B2001/3294—Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures with a faceted surface

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members comprises a plurality of domed truss sections aligned in end-to-end relationship, but spaced apart and interconnected by spacer tubes, so as to form a stretched truss structure.
  • Each truss section comprises a section of a domed roof, formed of inverted pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases, and a pair of support towers supporting each end of each section of the domed roof and acting as the side walls of the modular structure.
  • Each support tower comprises a rectangular base formed of tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the support tower being interconnected at a common point at the top thereof.
  • Diagonal reinforcement tubes extend across the bases of the pyramidal truss units and provide additional rigidity for the stretched truss structure. Reinforcing tubes interconnecting the corners of the support towers at a common point maintain the structural rigidity of the support towers.
  • One of the problems with such types of modular structures is that it is necessary to form the structure either in the form of a hemisphere or the form of a section of a hollow cylinder, much along the lines of the conventional Quonset hut design.
  • the domed roof and the walls present a continuous curved surface, and valuable space at ground level is lost along the edges of the structure, because the walls are sloped or converging at ground level.
  • the height of the structure is directly related to the ground area occupied by the structure in accordance with the geometry of a sphere or cylinder.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretched truss structure for an elongated domed modular structure, wherein rigid individual truss sections may be spaced apart and interconnected by spacer tubes.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced truss structure that permits the use of a stretched truss design without impairing the structural rigidity of the overall modular structure.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular structure formed of interconnected py- 2 ramidal truss units, wherein the truss structure has a smooth, even outer surface.
  • an improved modular structure formed entirely of interconnected tubular members comprises a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the walls of the modular structure and a domed roof resting on and supported by the support towers.
  • Each support tower comprises a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles and support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at the top ends thereof, thus forming a pair of upper comers on the support tower.
  • Reinforcing means in the form of reinforcing tubes are employed to maintain the structural rigidity of the support tower.
  • the reinforcing tubes extend from each of the comers of the base and from the upper comers of the tower and are connected together rigidly at a common point in the interior of the support tower by a nut and bolt connection.
  • the domed roof extends between the tops or upper comers of two opposed support towers and is connected to the upper corners of the towers by means of connecting plates.
  • the domed roof comprises a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected endto-end in a curved column along a common side of each base.
  • the pyramidal portion of each truss unit is formed of tubular members extending from the comers of the base to a common point.
  • the pyramid is inverted (i.e., extending toward the inside of the modular structure), so that the outside of the structure comprises a smooth outer surface formed by the adjacent adjoining base members.
  • the structural rigidity of this structure is increased by interconnecting the common points of the adjoining pyramidal truss units with truss unit reinforcing tubes and by providing diagonal reinforcement tubes across two opposing corners of the base of each truss unit.
  • the diagonal reinforcement tubes are particularly important when this truss structure is used in fabricating a stretched truss modular structure.
  • each truss section In order to construct an elongated domed modular structure, the foregoing structures each constitute a truss section and are connected together end-to-end in accordance with the present invention. Due to the fact that the foregoing truss structure is extremely strong, it is not necessary to attach each section together directly in an end-to-end relationship, as has been the practice in the prior art. Rather, each truss section may be spaced apart in end-to-end alignment and interconnected with the adjacent truss sections by means of appropriate spacer tubes interconnecting the corners of each base in each truss section with the comer of the base in the truss section immediately adjacent thereto. Thus, it is possible with the structure of the present in- .vention to create a stretched truss structure, which results in a considerable savings in both materials and in assembly time.
  • tubular members employed in the structure of the present invention are preformed hollow tubular members having flattened ends with bolt openings therein.
  • the structure is assembled simply by bolting these preformed members together.
  • the covering for the structure of the present inven tion may be any conventional covering, such as a flexible plastic material or the like.
  • the structure of the present application is used as a nursery to protect seedling trees
  • the structure is covered with a snow fence type of covering which if formed of closely spaced narrow wooden slats. This covering protects seedling trees from wind and temperature gradients until they are hearty enough to withstand the elements on their own.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two enclosures constructed in accordance with the present invention and interconnected in a twin dome enclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the modular structure of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the modular structure of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two individual truss units connected together in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a single support tower of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view showing the connection between the towers and twin dome roof structure of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 1 a pair of modular structures 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 connected side-byside in the form of a twin dome enclosure.
  • Each individual structure comprises a plurality of truss sections 12 (shown in FIG. 3) connected together end-to-end by means of spacer tubes 14.
  • the structure shown in FIG. 3 comprises three interconnected truss sections.
  • the present invention is not limited to any specific number of truss sections, and it would be possible to use any number of truss sections within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Indeed, a modular structure could conceivably consist of a single truss section alone for certain types of construction requirements.
  • the truss structure of the present invention is formed entirely of preformed hollow tubular members, with each tubular member having flattened ends and bolt openings therethrough.
  • the structure is constructed simply by bolting the tubular members together with conventional fasteners and this operation can conveniently take place at the construction site, thus facilitating transportation of the structure. Disassembly, similarly, can be undertaken at the construction site simply by unbolting the tubular members.
  • Each truss section 12 comprises a pair of opposing support towers 16 and a domed roof 18 which extends between the tops of the support towers and encloses the modular structure.
  • a domed roof having a substantially semicircular cross section in order to achieve substantially vertical side walls for the structure. Rather, vertical side walls are provided by the support towers and a flatter domed roof may be employed than would otherwise be possible.
  • varying the height of the support tower and the amount of dome on the roof it is possible to achieve height to width ratios for the structure that are not obtainable with domed structures not employing support towers.
  • Support tower 16 is formed entirely of interconnected tubes, preferably tubular members formed of steel, aluminum or the like.
  • Support tower 16 comprises a rectangular base 20 consisting of four equal tubular base members 22 interconnected together at the ends thereof at right angles to one another.
  • the preferred structure employs a rectangular base, but it would be possible to employ a base having a configuration other than a rectangle.
  • Extending upwardly from each of the comers of the base are four separate support struts 24.
  • the two support struts'24 on each side of the base are connected together so as to form a pair of corners 30 at the tops thereof, thus giving the support structure a generally triangular cross section. Corners 30 are joined by tubular member 44, which, as discussed below, constitutes one of the base members in domed roof 18.
  • the triangular sides of the support tower will be referred to as the sides of the support tower and the planar faces of the support tower will be referred to as the inside and outside surfaces of the support tower, depending upon whether the surface faces toward the inside of the modular structure or the outside of the modular structure.
  • Reinforcement of the support tower structure is provided by connecting all six comers of the support tower together by means of a reinforcing structure 26.
  • This reinforcing structure provides sufficient structural rigidity so that the support tower can withstand the stresses that are placed upon it.
  • this reinforcing structure comprises upper reinforcing tubes 28, which extend downwardly from upper comers 30 of the support towers, and lower refinforcing tubes 32, which extend to a common point from each of the corners of the base 20.
  • both the upper and lower reinforcing tubes are connected together rigidly at a common point in the interior of the support tower by means of a bolt and nut fastener 36 which extends through mating openings in the overlapping ends of the reinforcing tubes.
  • a bolt and nut fastener 36 which extends through mating openings in the overlapping ends of the reinforcing tubes.
  • Other types of fasteners also would be suitable for this purpose.
  • each truss section comprises a plurality of pyramidal truss units 38 having rectangular bases 40, with the truss units 38 being connected together in a curved column along adjoining common sides 42 of adjoining truss units.
  • each truss unit comprises four tubular base members 44, which are bolted together at right angles at the ends thereof.
  • these base members are all of equal length, but it is not necessary that this be the case, as other rectangular forms may also be satisfactory.
  • each truss unit is braced by means of four tubular members 46 which extend to a common point from each corner of the truss unit, thus forrnin g an inverted pyramid type of structure, with the exterior surface of the truss unit comprising a flat surface formed by tubular base members 44.
  • the inner ends of brace members 46 are all interconnected at the common point and form the point of the pyramid.
  • truss units 38 are interconnected along a common edge 42 of the bases 40 thereof, with a single tubular member 44 serving as the edge of the base in each pair of adjoining truss units. It would also be possible to construct completely separate truss units and connect them together with overlapping edges, but the additional material necessary for this type of construction is unnecessary for the structural rigidity of the unit.
  • each truss section are mounted on support towers 16 by means of flat steel connecting plate 34.
  • the ends of each tubular member 44 on the outside of each section are bolted to a connecting plate, and each connecting plate is in turn bolted to an upper corner 30 of the adjoining support tower 16.
  • Reinforcement of adjacent truss units 38 is provided by truss unit spacer tubes 48 which interconnect the points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section.
  • a separate truss unit spacer tube 50 is provided at the end of each section of roof to interconnect the point of the last pyramid with the support tower on which the domed roof is mounted at the common point where the tower reinforcing tubes are interconnected (see FIG. 6).
  • diagonal reinforcing tube 52 Another type of reinforcement employed in the truss structure of the present invention is a diagonal reinforcing tube 52, which extends across two opposing corners of the base of each truss unit.
  • This diagonal reinforcing tube may not be necessary in a structure wherein adjacent truss sections are joined directly together, butthese diagonal reinforcing tubes do provide significant additional structural rigidity when the stretched truss structure of the present invention is employed.
  • diagonal reinforcing tubes 52 are connected together in a zig-zag fashion, with the ends of the reinforcing tubes in adjacent truss sections being connected to common comers of the adjacent truss units.
  • each of the separate truss sections 18 are interconnected by means of spacer tubes 14 at the comers of the bases of each truss unit. Additional spacer tubes 14 are employed to connect the corners of the bases of each support tower to the comers of the adjacent support tower.
  • the open sections of the modular structure formed by spacer tubes 14 are approximately equal in width to one truss section of the modular structure.
  • spacer tubes 14 are each horizontally disposed and extend from the corner of one truss unit to the immediately adjacent comer of the truss unit in the adjoining truss section. It is also contemplated that these spacer tubes could be connected in some other fashion, such as in a diagonal arrangement or the like, without adversely impairing the structural rigidity of the modular structure.
  • a support tower feature of the present invention is that the modular structure has generally vertical side walls and hence a greater useable area than a structure wherein the sidewalls and roof are formed by a continuous domed surface.
  • the use of a support tower 16 of the type described herein permits the construction of the twin dome type of structure shown in FIG. 1, with a single support tower 16 serving as a common wall between two adjacent truss sections.
  • the reinforced tubular structure of support tower 16 of the present invention provides adequate rigidity for the support of even this twin dome structure while minimizing the amount of materials and complexity of construction involved.
  • One of the important advantages achieved with the stretched truss structure of the present invention is that this structure substantially reduces the cost and complexity of a modular structure, without adversely affecting the structural rigidity of the module.
  • the use of diagonal reinforcement tubes in the truss units of each truss section provides important additional support for this truss design.
  • Another advantage of the structure of the present invention is that the exterior surface of the domed roof of the structure is smooth and even, thus permitting the application of a smooth skin or covering to the modular structure.
  • This also permits the application of flat materials to the structure, whereas such flat materials are not easily applicable to the outer surfaces of a modular structure wherein the points of the pyramids extend outwardly towards the exterior the structure.
  • a preferred covering is a snow fence type of material consisting of a plurality of narrow wooden slats attached together in closely spaced relationship. A portion of a fence 54 constructed in this manner is shown schematically in FIG. 3.
  • a modular structure comprising:
  • each support tower comprising a base formed of interconnected tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from the base so as to form a pair of upper comers spaced apart a pre-determined distance, each said tower further comprising reinforcing means that interconnect the base and the support struts so as to maintain the upper corners of the tower in a fixed position relative to the base of the tower; and a section of a domed roof mounted on and extending between the support towers, said section of domed roof comprising a plurality of interconnected truss units formed in the shape of inverted pyramids having rectangular bases, said truss units being formed of tubular members connected together at the ends thereof, with the truss units being connected together along common sides of their bases, the truss units on each end of the domed roof section being mounted on the upper corners of the tower such that one side of the base of each such truss unit extends between the upper comers of
  • each tower is rectangular and is positioned such that two sides of the base are parallel to the axis of the domed roof and two sides of the base are perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof;
  • the tower comprises four support struts extending upwardly from the respective four corners of the base in vertical planes perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof, each pair of struts in a common plane being connected at upper ends thereof to form each upper corner of the tower;
  • the reinforcing means comprise reinforcing tubes that extend from each corner of the base and each upper comer of the tower to a common point inside the tower, said reinforcing tubes being interconnected at said common point.
  • a modular structure comprising:
  • each support tower spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, said support towers each having inside surfaces that face each other, outside surfaces that face away from each other, and side surfaces that are perpendicular to the inside and outside surfaces, each support tower comprising:
  • a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles at comers of the base;
  • support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at upper ends thereof so as to make each side of the support tower a vertically disposed triangle, with the upper ends of the struts forming spaced upper corners of the support tower;
  • reinforcing means adapted to maintain the structural rigidity of each support tower
  • said domed roof comprising a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected endto-end along a common side of each base, and with the sides of the bases on each end of the domed roof being connected at the ends thereof to the upper comers of the support tower.
  • the reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing tubes, one tube extending upwardly from each of the four corners of the base and one tube extending downwardly from each upper corner of the support tower, said reinforcing tubes all extending to a common point in the interior of the support tower and being rigidly fastened together at said point.
  • each pair of towers and interconnecting section of domed roof comprises a single truss section and the modular structure comprises:
  • truss section spacer tubes interconnecting each corner of each base of each pyramidal truss unit with the corner of the base of the adjacent truss unit in the immediately adjacent truss section;
  • the pyramidal truss units are positioned so that the base of the pyramid forms the outer surface of the domed roof and the sides of the pyramid extend inwardly to a common point in the interior of the structure;
  • truss unit spacer tubes interconnect the inwardly extending common points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section.
  • a modular structure comprising:
  • each truss section comprising:
  • each truss unit comprising a rectangular base formed of tubular members connected together at right angles and four tubular members extending from the respective four corners of the base to a common point, said truss units being connected together in said curved column along common sides of their bases;
  • truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the common point of each truss unit with the common point of the adjoining truss unit in each truss section;
  • truss section spacer tubes interconnecting the adjacent truss sections so as to produce a stretched truss structure, the truss section spacer tubes extending from the corners of the base of the truss units in each truss section to the adjacent corners of the base of the truss units in the adjacent truss section.
  • each domed truss section further comprises:
  • each tower being formed of tubular members that are interconnected at the ends thereof to form a rectangular base and a pair of upper corners on which the domed truss section is mounted.

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Abstract

A modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members comprises a plurality of domed truss sections aligned in end-toend relationship, but spaced apart and interconnected by spacer tubes, so as to form a stretched truss structure. Each truss section comprises a section of a domed roof, formed of inverted pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases, and a pair of support towers supporting each end of each section of the domed roof and acting as the side walls of the modular structure. Each support tower comprises a rectangular base formed of tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the support tower being interconnected at a common point at the top thereof. Diagonal reinforcement tubes extend across the bases of the pyramidal truss units and provide additional rigidity for the stretched truss structure. Reinforcing tubes interconnecting the corners of the support towers at a common point maintain the structural rigidity of the support towers.

Description

United States Patent Hemmelsbach Dec. 16, 1975 1 MODULAR STRUCTURE FORMED OF 75,961 5/1913 Austria 52/80 INTERCONNECTED TUBULAR MEMBERS 729796 12/I966 52/65" 1,214,134 12/1970 United Kingdom 52/204 [75] Inventor: Richard J. Hemmelsbach, West Ohvci Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser 73 Assignce; Space Age Industries, Inc Grand Assistant E.\'uminerLeslie A. Braun Haven, Mi Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGarry & Waters [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 414,952
[52] U.S. C1. 52/86; 52/93; 52/648; 52/650; 135/3 R [51] Int. Cl. E04B l/32; E0413 7/02 [58] Field of Search 52/648, 650, 649, 655, 52/86, 81, 63, 82, 93; 135/3 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,057,216 3/1913 Bowman ct a1. 52/649 2,049,783 8/1936 Stralcy 52/649 2,693,195 11/1954 Fricdcr ct a1. 135/3 R 2,709,975 6/1955 Parker 52/649 3,181,649 5/1965 Cutter 52/649 X 3,218,775 11/1965 Jackson 52/650 X 3,690,078 9/1972 Maynard..... 52/648 X 3,708,928 l/1973 Gaspcrs 52/650 X 3,731,450 5/1973 DuChateau 52/81 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [57] ABSTRACT A modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members comprises a plurality of domed truss sections aligned in end-to-end relationship, but spaced apart and interconnected by spacer tubes, so as to form a stretched truss structure. Each truss section comprises a section of a domed roof, formed of inverted pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases, and a pair of support towers supporting each end of each section of the domed roof and acting as the side walls of the modular structure. Each support tower comprises a rectangular base formed of tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the support tower being interconnected at a common point at the top thereof. Diagonal reinforcement tubes extend across the bases of the pyramidal truss units and provide additional rigidity for the stretched truss structure. Reinforcing tubes interconnecting the corners of the support towers at a common point maintain the structural rigidity of the support towers.
l0/l932 ltaly 52/63 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheetlof2 3,925,942
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US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,925,942
FIG.6
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MODULAR STRUCTURE FORMED OF INTERCONNECTED TUBULAR MEMBERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to modular structures and more particularly to an improved modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members.
2. Description of the Prior Art Due to the high cost of labor and materials involved in erecting conventional types of building facilities, attempts have been made to decrease the cost of structural enclosures by making pre-fabricated structures that may be connected together in modules at the site of the construction. One type of modular structure involves the use of interconnected tubular members which form a domed type of framework which may then be covered by a suitable outer skin, such as a plastic material or the like.
One of the problems with such types of modular structures is that it is necessary to form the structure either in the form of a hemisphere or the form of a section of a hollow cylinder, much along the lines of the conventional Quonset hut design. In either type of structure, the domed roof and the walls present a continuous curved surface, and valuable space at ground level is lost along the edges of the structure, because the walls are sloped or converging at ground level. Also, in structures of this nature, the height of the structure is directly related to the ground area occupied by the structure in accordance with the geometry of a sphere or cylinder.
In previously existing modular structures formed of interconnected tubular members, the walls of such structures have typically been formed of a solid matrix of interconnected truss members, with reinforcing rods and struts being employedin all sections of the structure. This type of construction is suitable for many purposes but involves a significant expenditure on support frame work. 7
Another problem with certain previously existing modular structures formed of interconnected tubular members is that, to the extent that such structures have been constructed of a web of interconnected truss units formed in the shape of pyramids having rectangular bases, the points or tops of the pyramids generally have been positioned so as to be extending outwardly from the surfaces of the outer walls, thus presenting a nonuniform exterior surface to the structure, which detracts from the exterior appearance and militates against the use of certain types of coverings.
It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a vertically oriented support tower formed of tubular members for use in connection with an elongated domed modular structure, such that the support tower serves as the vertical sidewall of the structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretched truss structure for an elongated domed modular structure, wherein rigid individual truss sections may be spaced apart and interconnected by spacer tubes.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced truss structure that permits the use of a stretched truss design without impairing the structural rigidity of the overall modular structure.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular structure formed of interconnected py- 2 ramidal truss units, wherein the truss structure has a smooth, even outer surface.
The foregoing deficiencies in previous modular structure designs and the foregoing objects, as well as other objects and advantages, are achieved by the modular structure of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an improved modular structure formed entirely of interconnected tubular members comprises a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the walls of the modular structure and a domed roof resting on and supported by the support towers. Each support tower comprises a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles and support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at the top ends thereof, thus forming a pair of upper comers on the support tower. Reinforcing means in the form of reinforcing tubes are employed to maintain the structural rigidity of the support tower. The reinforcing tubes extend from each of the comers of the base and from the upper comers of the tower and are connected together rigidly at a common point in the interior of the support tower by a nut and bolt connection.
The domed roof extends between the tops or upper comers of two opposed support towers and is connected to the upper corners of the towers by means of connecting plates. The domed roof comprises a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected endto-end in a curved column along a common side of each base. The pyramidal portion of each truss unit is formed of tubular members extending from the comers of the base to a common point. The pyramid is inverted (i.e., extending toward the inside of the modular structure), so that the outside of the structure comprises a smooth outer surface formed by the adjacent adjoining base members.
The structural rigidity of this structure is increased by interconnecting the common points of the adjoining pyramidal truss units with truss unit reinforcing tubes and by providing diagonal reinforcement tubes across two opposing corners of the base of each truss unit. The diagonal reinforcement tubes are particularly important when this truss structure is used in fabricating a stretched truss modular structure.
In order to construct an elongated domed modular structure, the foregoing structures each constitute a truss section and are connected together end-to-end in accordance with the present invention. Due to the fact that the foregoing truss structure is extremely strong, it is not necessary to attach each section together directly in an end-to-end relationship, as has been the practice in the prior art. Rather, each truss section may be spaced apart in end-to-end alignment and interconnected with the adjacent truss sections by means of appropriate spacer tubes interconnecting the corners of each base in each truss section with the comer of the base in the truss section immediately adjacent thereto. Thus, it is possible with the structure of the present in- .vention to create a stretched truss structure, which results in a considerable savings in both materials and in assembly time.
The tubular members employed in the structure of the present invention are preformed hollow tubular members having flattened ends with bolt openings therein. The structure is assembled simply by bolting these preformed members together.
The covering for the structure of the present inven tion may be any conventional covering, such as a flexible plastic material or the like. In one application, where the structure of the present application is used as a nursery to protect seedling trees, the structure is covered with a snow fence type of covering which if formed of closely spaced narrow wooden slats. This covering protects seedling trees from wind and temperature gradients until they are hearty enough to withstand the elements on their own.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is described below and shown in the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two enclosures constructed in accordance with the present invention and interconnected in a twin dome enclosure.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the modular structure of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the modular structure of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two individual truss units connected together in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a single support tower of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view showing the connection between the towers and twin dome roof structure of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, a pair of modular structures 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 connected side-byside in the form of a twin dome enclosure. Each individual structure comprises a plurality of truss sections 12 (shown in FIG. 3) connected together end-to-end by means of spacer tubes 14. For illustrative purposes, the structure shown in FIG. 3 comprises three interconnected truss sections. However, the present invention is not limited to any specific number of truss sections, and it would be possible to use any number of truss sections within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Indeed, a modular structure could conceivably consist of a single truss section alone for certain types of construction requirements.
The truss structure of the present invention is formed entirely of preformed hollow tubular members, with each tubular member having flattened ends and bolt openings therethrough. The structure is constructed simply by bolting the tubular members together with conventional fasteners and this operation can conveniently take place at the construction site, thus facilitating transportation of the structure. Disassembly, similarly, can be undertaken at the construction site simply by unbolting the tubular members.
Each truss section 12 comprises a pair of opposing support towers 16 and a domed roof 18 which extends between the tops of the support towers and encloses the modular structure. As shown in FIG. 2, by using support towers as opposed to forming the structure of a single, continuous domed wall, it is not necessary to employ a domed roof having a substantially semicircular cross section in order to achieve substantially vertical side walls for the structure. Rather, vertical side walls are provided by the support towers and a flatter domed roof may be employed than would otherwise be possible. In addition, by varying the height of the support tower and the amount of dome on the roof, it is possible to achieve height to width ratios for the structure that are not obtainable with domed structures not employing support towers.
The construction of the support towers 16 is shown in detail in FIG. 5. Support tower 16 is formed entirely of interconnected tubes, preferably tubular members formed of steel, aluminum or the like. Support tower 16 comprises a rectangular base 20 consisting of four equal tubular base members 22 interconnected together at the ends thereof at right angles to one another. The preferred structure employs a rectangular base, but it would be possible to employ a base having a configuration other than a rectangle. Extending upwardly from each of the comers of the base are four separate support struts 24. The two support struts'24 on each side of the base are connected together so as to form a pair of corners 30 at the tops thereof, thus giving the support structure a generally triangular cross section. Corners 30 are joined by tubular member 44, which, as discussed below, constitutes one of the base members in domed roof 18.
For purposes of discussion, the triangular sides of the support tower will be referred to as the sides of the support tower and the planar faces of the support tower will be referred to as the inside and outside surfaces of the support tower, depending upon whether the surface faces toward the inside of the modular structure or the outside of the modular structure.
Reinforcement of the support tower structure is provided by connecting all six comers of the support tower together by means of a reinforcing structure 26. This reinforcing structure provides sufficient structural rigidity so that the support tower can withstand the stresses that are placed upon it. Preferably, this reinforcing structure comprises upper reinforcing tubes 28, which extend downwardly from upper comers 30 of the support towers, and lower refinforcing tubes 32, which extend to a common point from each of the corners of the base 20. In the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the inner ends of both the upper and lower reinforcing tubes are connected together rigidly at a common point in the interior of the support tower by means of a bolt and nut fastener 36 which extends through mating openings in the overlapping ends of the reinforcing tubes. Other types of fasteners also would be suitable for this purpose.
The domed roof 18 of each truss section comprises a plurality of pyramidal truss units 38 having rectangular bases 40, with the truss units 38 being connected together in a curved column along adjoining common sides 42 of adjoining truss units. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, each truss unit comprises four tubular base members 44, which are bolted together at right angles at the ends thereof. Preferably, these base members are all of equal length, but it is not necessary that this be the case, as other rectangular forms may also be satisfactory.
The rectangular bases of each truss unit are braced by means of four tubular members 46 which extend to a common point from each corner of the truss unit, thus forrnin g an inverted pyramid type of structure, with the exterior surface of the truss unit comprising a flat surface formed by tubular base members 44. The inner ends of brace members 46 are all interconnected at the common point and form the point of the pyramid.
As shown in FIG. 4, truss units 38 are interconnected along a common edge 42 of the bases 40 thereof, with a single tubular member 44 serving as the edge of the base in each pair of adjoining truss units. It would also be possible to construct completely separate truss units and connect them together with overlapping edges, but the additional material necessary for this type of construction is unnecessary for the structural rigidity of the unit.
The ends of each truss section are mounted on support towers 16 by means of flat steel connecting plate 34. The ends of each tubular member 44 on the outside of each section are bolted to a connecting plate, and each connecting plate is in turn bolted to an upper corner 30 of the adjoining support tower 16.
Reinforcement of adjacent truss units 38 is provided by truss unit spacer tubes 48 which interconnect the points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section. A separate truss unit spacer tube 50 is provided at the end of each section of roof to interconnect the point of the last pyramid with the support tower on which the domed roof is mounted at the common point where the tower reinforcing tubes are interconnected (see FIG. 6).
Another type of reinforcement employed in the truss structure of the present invention is a diagonal reinforcing tube 52, which extends across two opposing corners of the base of each truss unit. This diagonal reinforcing tube may not be necessary in a structure wherein adjacent truss sections are joined directly together, butthese diagonal reinforcing tubes do provide significant additional structural rigidity when the stretched truss structure of the present invention is employed. As shown in FIG. 3, diagonal reinforcing tubes 52 are connected together in a zig-zag fashion, with the ends of the reinforcing tubes in adjacent truss sections being connected to common comers of the adjacent truss units.
The stretched truss structure of the present invention is shown in detail in FIG. 3, wherein each of the separate truss sections 18 are interconnected by means of spacer tubes 14 at the comers of the bases of each truss unit. Additional spacer tubes 14 are employed to connect the corners of the bases of each support tower to the comers of the adjacent support tower. Preferably, the open sections of the modular structure formed by spacer tubes 14 are approximately equal in width to one truss section of the modular structure. However, it would also be possible to provide greater or lesser separation of the truss sections, depending on the strength desired for the structure, the weight of the skin to be applied to the structure, or winds or other climatic conditions expected to be encountered by the structure.
Preferably, also, spacer tubes 14 are each horizontally disposed and extend from the corner of one truss unit to the immediately adjacent comer of the truss unit in the adjoining truss section. It is also contemplated that these spacer tubes could be connected in some other fashion, such as in a diagonal arrangement or the like, without adversely impairing the structural rigidity of the modular structure.
As discussed above, one important advantage of a support tower feature of the present invention is that the modular structure has generally vertical side walls and hence a greater useable area than a structure wherein the sidewalls and roof are formed by a continuous domed surface. Also, the use of a support tower 16 of the type described herein permits the construction of the twin dome type of structure shown in FIG. 1, with a single support tower 16 serving as a common wall between two adjacent truss sections. The reinforced tubular structure of support tower 16 of the present invention provides adequate rigidity for the support of even this twin dome structure while minimizing the amount of materials and complexity of construction involved.
One of the important advantages achieved with the stretched truss structure of the present invention is that this structure substantially reduces the cost and complexity of a modular structure, without adversely affecting the structural rigidity of the module. The use of diagonal reinforcement tubes in the truss units of each truss section provides important additional support for this truss design.
Another advantage of the structure of the present invention is that the exterior surface of the domed roof of the structure is smooth and even, thus permitting the application of a smooth skin or covering to the modular structure. This also permits the application of flat materials to the structure, whereas such flat materials are not easily applicable to the outer surfaces of a modular structure wherein the points of the pyramids extend outwardly towards the exterior the structure.
When the structure of the present invention is used as an enclosure for a nursery for seedling evergreen trees ot the like, a preferred covering is a snow fence type of material consisting of a plurality of narrow wooden slats attached together in closely spaced relationship. A portion of a fence 54 constructed in this manner is shown schematically in FIG. 3.
One of the problems encountered in growing seedling evergreen trees is that in late winter the warm sun present during the days causes the sprouts to start to grow, and then the cold nights and winds kill the new sprouts. By using the enclosure of the present invention and a snow fence type of covering, the seedlings are protected from the warm sun and other elements, so that the growth of the sprouts will be delayed until the weather is sufficiently warm to avoid damage to the sprouts.
It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary of the preferred practice of the present invention and that various changes, modifications, and variations may be made in the arrangements, operations, and details of construction of the elements disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
l. A modular structure comprising:
a pair of vertical support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, each support tower comprising a base formed of interconnected tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from the base so as to form a pair of upper comers spaced apart a pre-determined distance, each said tower further comprising reinforcing means that interconnect the base and the support struts so as to maintain the upper corners of the tower in a fixed position relative to the base of the tower; and a section of a domed roof mounted on and extending between the support towers, said section of domed roof comprising a plurality of interconnected truss units formed in the shape of inverted pyramids having rectangular bases, said truss units being formed of tubular members connected together at the ends thereof, with the truss units being connected together along common sides of their bases, the truss units on each end of the domed roof section being mounted on the upper corners of the tower such that one side of the base of each such truss unit extends between the upper comers of the tower. 2. A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of towers and attached section of domed roof comprise a single truss section and the modular structure comprises a plurality of truss sections connected together end-to-end.
3. A modular structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the individual truss sections are spaced apart by truss section spacer tubes that extend between and connect adjacent truss sections so as to separate adjacent truss sections by a pre-determined distance.
4. A modular structure as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between opposite corners of the bases of a sufficient number of truss units to adequately reinforce the modular structure.
5. A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the truss section spacer tubes extend from the corners of each truss unit in each truss section to the corners of each truss unit in the truss section adjacent thereto.
6. A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising a plurality of truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the inverted points of adjacent pyramidal truss units in each truss section, a truss unit spacer tube also extending from the inverted point on the truss unit at each end of each section of domed roof to the tower on which the truss unit is mounted.
7. A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the base of each tower is rectangular and is positioned such that two sides of the base are parallel to the axis of the domed roof and two sides of the base are perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof;
the tower comprises four support struts extending upwardly from the respective four corners of the base in vertical planes perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof, each pair of struts in a common plane being connected at upper ends thereof to form each upper corner of the tower; and
the reinforcing means comprise reinforcing tubes that extend from each corner of the base and each upper comer of the tower to a common point inside the tower, said reinforcing tubes being interconnected at said common point.
8. A modular structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the domed roof is bolted to each upper corner of each tower by means of a connecting plate.
9. A modular structure comprising:
a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, said support towers each having inside surfaces that face each other, outside surfaces that face away from each other, and side surfaces that are perpendicular to the inside and outside surfaces, each support tower comprising:
a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles at comers of the base;
support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at upper ends thereof so as to make each side of the support tower a vertically disposed triangle, with the upper ends of the struts forming spaced upper corners of the support tower; and
reinforcing means adapted to maintain the structural rigidity of each support tower; and
a section of domed roof mounted on and extending between the upper corners of the two support towers, said domed roof comprising a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected endto-end along a common side of each base, and with the sides of the bases on each end of the domed roof being connected at the ends thereof to the upper comers of the support tower.
10. A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing tubes, one tube extending upwardly from each of the four corners of the base and one tube extending downwardly from each upper corner of the support tower, said reinforcing tubes all extending to a common point in the interior of the support tower and being rigidly fastened together at said point.
11. A modular structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the reinforcing tubes of the truss tower are interconnected at said common point by means of a bolt and nut fastener.
12. A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein:
each pair of towers and interconnecting section of domed roof comprises a single truss section and the modular structure comprises:
a plurality of identical truss sections, spaced apart a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end;
truss section spacer tubes interconnecting each corner of each base of each pyramidal truss unit with the corner of the base of the adjacent truss unit in the immediately adjacent truss section; and
diagonal reinforcing tubes extending diagonally across the base of each truss unit.
13. A modular structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein:
the pyramidal truss units are positioned so that the base of the pyramid forms the outer surface of the domed roof and the sides of the pyramid extend inwardly to a common point in the interior of the structure; and
truss unit spacer tubes interconnect the inwardly extending common points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section.
14. A modular structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein the modular structure is covered with snow fence material.
15. A modular structure comprising:
a plurality of identical domed truss sections spaced apart from each other a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end to form an elongated domed structure,
9 each truss section comprising:
a plurality of identical inverted pyramidal truss units connected together end-to-end in a curved column, each truss unit comprising a rectangular base formed of tubular members connected together at right angles and four tubular members extending from the respective four corners of the base to a common point, said truss units being connected together in said curved column along common sides of their bases;
truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the common point of each truss unit with the common point of the adjoining truss unit in each truss section; and
diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between two opposing corners of each truss unit base; and
10 a plurality of truss section spacer tubes interconnecting the adjacent truss sections so as to produce a stretched truss structure, the truss section spacer tubes extending from the corners of the base of the truss units in each truss section to the adjacent corners of the base of the truss units in the adjacent truss section.
16. A modular structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein each domed truss section further comprises:
a vertically disposed support tower supporting each end of each domed truss section at a pre-determined distance above the ground, each tower being formed of tubular members that are interconnected at the ends thereof to form a rectangular base and a pair of upper corners on which the domed truss section is mounted.

Claims (16)

1. A modular structure comprising: a pair of vertical support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, each support tower comprising a base formed of interconnected tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from the base so as to form a pair of upper corners spaced apart a pre-determined distance, each said tower further comprising reinforcing means that interconnect the base and the support struts so as to maintain the upper corners of the tower in a fixed position relative to the base of the tower; and a section of a domed roof mounted on and extending between the support towers, said section of domed roof comprising a plurality of interconnected truss units formed in the shape of inverted pyramids having rectangular bases, said truss units being formed of tubular members connected together at the ends thereof, with the truss units being connected together along common sides of their bases, the truss units on each end of the domed roof section being mounted on the upper corners of the tower such that one side of the base of each such truss unit extends between the upper corners of the tower.
2. A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of towers and attached section of domed roof comprise a single truss section and the modular structure comprises a plurality of truss sections connected together end-to-end.
3. A modular structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the individual truss sections are spaced apart by truss section spacer tubes that extend between and connect adjacent truss sections so as to separate adjacent truss sections by a pre-determined distance.
4. A modular structure as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between opposite corners of the bases of a sufficient number of truss units to adequately reinforce the modular structure.
5. A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the truss section spacer tubes extend from the corners of each truss unit in each truss sectiOn to the corners of each truss unit in the truss section adjacent thereto.
6. A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising a plurality of truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the inverted points of adjacent pyramidal truss units in each truss section, a truss unit spacer tube also extending from the inverted point on the truss unit at each end of each section of domed roof to the tower on which the truss unit is mounted.
7. A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the base of each tower is rectangular and is positioned such that two sides of the base are parallel to the axis of the domed roof and two sides of the base are perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof; the tower comprises four support struts extending upwardly from the respective four corners of the base in vertical planes perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof, each pair of struts in a common plane being connected at upper ends thereof to form each upper corner of the tower; and the reinforcing means comprise reinforcing tubes that extend from each corner of the base and each upper corner of the tower to a common point inside the tower, said reinforcing tubes being interconnected at said common point.
8. A modular structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the domed roof is bolted to each upper corner of each tower by means of a connecting plate.
9. A modular structure comprising: a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, said support towers each having inside surfaces that face each other, outside surfaces that face away from each other, and side surfaces that are perpendicular to the inside and outside surfaces, each support tower comprising: a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles at corners of the base; support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at upper ends thereof so as to make each side of the support tower a vertically disposed triangle, with the upper ends of the struts forming spaced upper corners of the support tower; and reinforcing means adapted to maintain the structural rigidity of each support tower; and a section of domed roof mounted on and extending between the upper corners of the two support towers, said domed roof comprising a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected end-to-end along a common side of each base, and with the sides of the bases on each end of the domed roof being connected at the ends thereof to the upper corners of the support tower.
10. A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing tubes, one tube extending upwardly from each of the four corners of the base and one tube extending downwardly from each upper corner of the support tower, said reinforcing tubes all extending to a common point in the interior of the support tower and being rigidly fastened together at said point.
11. A modular structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the reinforcing tubes of the truss tower are interconnected at said common point by means of a bolt and nut fastener.
12. A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein: each pair of towers and interconnecting section of domed roof comprises a single truss section and the modular structure comprises: a plurality of identical truss sections, spaced apart a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end; truss section spacer tubes interconnecting each corner of each base of each pyramidal truss unit with the corner of the base of the adjacent truss unit in the immediately adjacent truss section; and diagonal reinforcing tubes extending diagonally across the base of each truss unit.
13. A modular structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein: the pyramidal truss units arE positioned so that the base of the pyramid forms the outer surface of the domed roof and the sides of the pyramid extend inwardly to a common point in the interior of the structure; and truss unit spacer tubes interconnect the inwardly extending common points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section.
14. A modular structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein the modular structure is covered with snow fence material.
15. A modular structure comprising: a plurality of identical domed truss sections spaced apart from each other a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end to form an elongated domed structure, each truss section comprising: a plurality of identical inverted pyramidal truss units connected together end-to-end in a curved column, each truss unit comprising a rectangular base formed of tubular members connected together at right angles and four tubular members extending from the respective four corners of the base to a common point, said truss units being connected together in said curved column along common sides of their bases; truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the common point of each truss unit with the common point of the adjoining truss unit in each truss section; and diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between two opposing corners of each truss unit base; and a plurality of truss section spacer tubes interconnecting the adjacent truss sections so as to produce a stretched truss structure, the truss section spacer tubes extending from the corners of the base of the truss units in each truss section to the adjacent corners of the base of the truss units in the adjacent truss section.
16. A modular structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein each domed truss section further comprises: a vertically disposed support tower supporting each end of each domed truss section at a pre-determined distance above the ground, each tower being formed of tubular members that are interconnected at the ends thereof to form a rectangular base and a pair of upper corners on which the domed truss section is mounted.
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US20110072742A1 (en) * 2009-09-30 2011-03-31 Adensis Gmbh Steel support frame for a photovoltaic system usable as a carport
CN102767235B (en) * 2012-08-17 2014-07-09 中建二局第二建筑工程有限公司 Long-span spherical reticulated shell coal yard structure construction method
CN102767235A (en) * 2012-08-17 2012-11-07 中建二局第二建筑工程有限公司 Long-span spherical reticulated shell coal yard structure and construction method thereof
RU2543762C1 (en) * 2013-12-12 2015-03-10 Юлия Алексеевна Щепочкина Roof
US9273466B2 (en) * 2014-08-03 2016-03-01 Carlos Anglade Self supporting communication tower
US20160298354A1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2016-10-13 Stellenbosch University Supporting frame assembly
US20160298804A1 (en) * 2015-04-07 2016-10-13 Stellenbosch University Frame supported height adjustable pylon
US9932749B2 (en) * 2015-04-07 2018-04-03 Stellenbosch University Supporting frame assembly
US9995427B2 (en) * 2015-04-07 2018-06-12 Stellenbosch University Frame supported height adjustable pylon

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