Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
  • F16B7/18—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections using screw-thread elements
  • F16B7/185—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections using screw-thread elements with a node element
• • 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
  • E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
  • E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
  • E04B1/1903—Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor
  • E04B1/1906—Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor with central spherical, semispherical or polyhedral connecting element

Definitions

• the technical field of invention relates to the structural frame joints, mainly for connecting structural frame members in three directions, the application filed includes, all types and shapes of space frames, scaffolding frames, electric towers for power transmission, tent camp frames, and any similar applications.
• the joint nodes are considered as the most important part in structural frames, they connect the frame members according to required design shape, and so, the nodes define the frame shape by keep in-between member's angles.
• the frame nodes should be integrated together with their members to create frame angles which define frame shape.
• the axis of all members are ended at the centre of the nodes, so all forces shall be axial through member's axis and collected at the node centre preventing creation of moment forces and increase frame stability.
• the available nodes has a predefined angles, they used only for one frame design, if the frame angles changed, the node angles must change with new design angles to accommodate new frame design.
• the most famous space frame- joint nodes consist of metal sphere with threaded holes distributed on it's surface; the threaded holes have in-between angles values according to frame design requirements.
• the members are fixed to threaded holes; the end of the members should prepared to fixed in the threaded holes, so the member ends should have special preparation for fixation to the central sphere, accordingly, the node design and members should change to integrate each other. Normally the members are direct fixed to sphere by threaded bolts and nut, any unbalance force may be create sheer stress on the bolt and may damage them.
• multi node types of different design should be used.
• the free spider joint nodes for structure frames are hinged joint connectors for structure frame members without using welding or direct bolt fixation, that joints can connect most space frame structure members at wide range of required in- between member's angles in three directions.
• Those joint nodes has ability to connect up to 24 members at one point by using only one node, all member's axes are ended at center of the node.
• the connection of the members to the node are not rigid joint but hinged joint, the hinging is done by using slip pressure fittings which do not allow creation of any bending forces at the end of the members.
• the spider joint node can connect any type of cylindrical bars without pre-preparation for the member's ends, only adjusting their lengths as per frame design, the in- between angles of members can be adjusted in the three directions before or during installations, also the joint nodes can be disassembled and reused to connect other members with different design.
• the invention includes two models; the two models have same main features, the first model is more suitable for space frames, the second models is more suitable for tent camp structures, and scaffoldings frames, moreover, any of the two models can be used for join members of any frame type, the designer have free choice to select more suitable type for his design.
• the first model includes the following parts as indicated and numbered in drawings (1 and 2)
• Connector group includes (5, 6,7,8, 13, 14, and 15) Detailed description of the first model (closed type)
• the first model of free spider joint node as detailed in the drawings no (1 to 9) consists of numbers of closed guide arms (2), all arms are closed on the
• the semi spherical central body consists of three parts to facilitate guide arms installation.
• the center point of central body is the point where all axes of the members intersect, so all axial forces through members are collected in the center point of central body, that result of preventing any bending stress may generated at the end of members, also, that result more frame stability.
• the contact washer (8) enables good contact fixation of connector group with guide arm.
• the connector bolt (5) to be inser ed inside the connector pushing the contact washer (8) against guide arm, the connector body shall be tightly fixed to the guide arm.
• the seating disc (6) to be inserted between connector's nut (14) and central body (1), the connector's nut (14) to be turned in the direction of central body to fix and lock guide arm and connecting group with central body.
• the connector bolt (5) does not move and still fixing guide arms because the inside connector thread is reverse direction of connector's nut (14).
• the guide base (1 1) to be installed in place rfter installation of all guide arms, the guide base ensure correct position of guide arm ends, after installation of the guide bases, spring (12) and conical body (3) to be inserted, the conical body (3) press the spring down to keep guide base in position. Finally, fixation nuts (9) to be fixed in main axial bolt (4).
• the guide base (1 1) ensure correct position of guide arms and in between member angles, in order to change in between member angles, another guide base may be used accordingly. After finishing of adjusting node angles and tighten of all parts flange (16) and connector conical body (13) to be fixed in position and to be ready to fix members.
• Component of second model consists of the followings, as indicated and numbered in drawings (10 and 1 1).
• 1 - Central body, semi spherical body has flat surface from top and bottom, it has cylindrical void in the top surface, and it is drilled from the center.
• 3-Circular fixation base drilled from the center and the main axial tie bolt passes through it.
• the second model differs than first model.
• the two ends of the guide arms are closed inside central body with connector body.
• the second model only one end of guide arm inter the central body, another end remains free outside central body, so the coniector group can be inserted in in the guide arms after fixing of it's upper end in the central body.
• the second model (as indicated in the drawings 10-17) consists of, central body (1), it has circular void in the top surface, and the central body is drilled from the center. All axes of the members are intersected in the center of the body, so all tension and compression forces are collected in one point which tends to eliminating bending force at the node that is mean more frame stability.
• the all upper ends of the guide arms are collected in the top void of the central body, those ends are kept in place by inserting guide base (1 1 ) at the upper ends of guide arms.
• the connecting group to be inserted in the guide arm.
• connecting group includes parts numbers (5, 6,7,8, 14,17, and 18).
• the contact washer (8) enables good contact fixation of connector group with guide arm.
• the connector bolt (5) to be inserted inside the connector pushing contact washer (8) against guide arm, the connector body shall be tightly fixed to the guide arm.
• the seating disc (6) to be inserted between connector's nut (14) and central body (1 ), the connector's nut (14) to be turned in the direction of central body to fix and lock guide arm and connecting group with central body.
• the connector bolt (5) does not move and still fixing guide arms because the inside connector thread is reverse direction of connector's nut (14).
• guide base (1 1) After finishing of placing all guide arms in place with connecting groups, guide base (1 1) to be placed to keep them in correct place, the spring (12) to be placed in position to press guide base down, disc (13) and main axial bolt (4) should fixed using fixation nuts (9).
• Drawing (1) indicates essential details of first model assembled with num beri ng for all parts.
• Drawing (2) indicates solid view for disassembled parts of first model with numbering for all parts.
• Drawing (3) indicates solid view for first model with two guide arms with three connector groups in each guide arm.
• Drawing (4) indicates 3D solid view for first model with two guide arms, with three connectors group in each guide arm.
• Drawing (5) indicates 3D solid view for first model with four guide arms and twelve connectors, some connectors without connector's nuts for clarification.
• Drawing (6) Indicates connection example of first model joint node with frame members in vertical plan.
• Drawing (7) indicates 3D solid view for first model with eight guide arms and twelve connectors (one connector in each of four ones and two connectors in each of other)
• Drawing (8) indicates solid of side view for which indicated in drawing (7).
• Drawing (9) indicates solid horizontal plan for which indicated in drawing (8).
• Drawing (10) indicates assembly of main components of second model with numbering for all parts.
• Drawing (11) indicates disassembled of main components of second mode! wi th numbering for all parts.
• Drawing (12) indicates solid view of second model with one guide arm and one connecting group.
• Drawing (13) indicates solid plan view of second model with eight guide arms, each one fixed with one connector groups and all in one plan.
• Drawing (14) indicates 3D solid view for second model from up, indicates eight guide arms fixed with eight connector groups with different angles.
• Drawing (15) indicates 3D solid view for second model from bottom with eight guide arms fixed with eight connector groups and all in one plan, some of connector group without connector's nut for indication.
• Drawing (16) indicates solid side view for second model with two guide arms with two connector groups fixed in each, all in vertical plan
• Drawing (17) indicates 3D solid view for second model with eight guide arms; each guide arm has one connector group, some of connectors without connector's nuts for indications.

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• 2018
  • 2018-03-21 CN CN201880048503.2A patent/CN111033058B/zh active Active
  • 2018-03-21 WO PCT/EG2018/000003 patent/WO2019024968A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2018-03-21 GB GBGB2002236.4A patent/GB202002236D0/en not_active Ceased

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