Space frame and module for its construction

EP 0460004 B1
Abstract (text from WO19900101!A1"
A space frame comprises an upper rectan#ular #rid of $ori%ontal structural members (1B to 4B" and a
correspondin# lo&er #rid of $ori%ontal structural members (1A to 4A"' (pper and lo&er #rids are
interconnected b) upri#$t members (!A* !B" at intersections' +$e structure is built up from prefabricated
modules (A* B* etc'" eac$ of &$ic$ comprises one upri#$t member and four ort$o#onall) arran#ed
$ori%ontal members (1 to 4"' Alternate modules (B" are in,erted and t$e outer ends of $ori%ontal
members (1A* 1B" are fixed to t$e free ends (-1B* -1A" of t$e upri#$t members (!"'
.ma#es("


/laims(9"
1' A space frame comprisin# an upper #rid (11" of $ori%ontal structural members (1B* B* -B*
4B" 0oined to#et$er at upper intersections (1!"* a lo&er #rid (1" of $ori%ontal structural members
(1A* A* -A* 4A" 0oined to#et$er at lo&er intersections (16" and upri#$t structural members
(1- or !" interconnectin# t$e #rids at t$eir intersections* t$e structure bein# formed from 1
prefabricated modules (A* B etc"* c$aracterised in t$at eac$ module comprises one of t$e upri#$t
members (!" and $ori%ontal structural members (1* * -* 4" permanentl) 0oined to one end
onl) of t$e upri#$t member* alternate modules (A and B etc" bein# assembled into t$e space frame
in relati,el) in,erted positions &it$ t$e free ends of $ori%ontal members of one module eac$ 0oined
to t$e free end of t$e upri#$t member of an ad0acent module'
' A space frame as claimed in /laim 1 c$aracterised in t$at t$e upri#$t (!" and $ori%ontal (1 to 4"
members formin# a module are &elded to#et$er'
-' A space frame as claimed in claim 1 or c$aracterised in t$at t$e $ori%ontal structural members (1
to 4" are .1section steel members'
4' A space frame as claimed in an) one of t$e precedin# claims c$aracterised in t$at t$e $ori%ontal
members (1A* B" of one module are 0oined to ad0acent modules b) bolts (bolt $oles -4A* -4B"'
!' A space frame as claimed in an) one of t$e precedin# claims c$aracterised in t$at eac$ end of a
$ori%ontal member for 0oinin# to anot$er module incorporates a connector plate (2" secured t$ereto
and extendin# be)ond t$e end t$ereof'
6' A space frame as claimed in claim ! c$aracterised in t$at t$e free end of t$e upri#$t member of eac$
module incorporates a connector (-1" comprisin# ,ertical plates (--" for 0oinin# to t$e connector
plates (2" of $ori%ontal members'
3' A space frame as claimed in an) one of precedin# claims c$aracterised in t$at t$e upper and lo&er
structural members are eac$ arran#ed in an ort$o#onal pattern produced b) modules eac$
incorporatin# four $ori%ontal structural members'
2' A space frame as claimed in an) one of precedin# claims furt$er comprisin# dia#onal braces (-!"
extendin# from at least some of t$e $ori%ontal members to t$e upri#$t member of t$e same module'
9' A module (A or B" for a space frame as claimed in an) one of t$e precedin# claims formed as a
&elded to#et$er assembl) of an upri#$t structural member (!" and $ori%ontal structural members
(1 to 4" c$aracterised in t$at all t$e $ori%ontal structural members are &elded or ot$er&ise
permanentl) connected to and extend out from one end onl) of t$e upri#$t member (!"'
4escription
500016
+$e in,ention relates to space frames* particularl) but not exclusi,el) for use as $ori%ontal
structures brid#in# spaces bet&een supports' A space frame is especiall) suitable for co,erin# a
substantial space &it$ support onl) at t$e ed#es* t$e structure bein# ot$er&ise self1supportin#* &it$
no need for inter,enin# upri#$t supports' A space frame commonl) comprises upper and lo&er #rids
of structural members* 0oined b) interconnectin# members to form a ri#id t$ree dimensional
structure'
50006
A space frame is used* for example* for a roof structure &$ere a lar#e space unencumbered b)
upri#$t supports is important' .t can also be used for t$e floors and roof of a multi1store) office
bloc7' A space frame can also be used as a temporar) structure suc$ as a temporar) floor co,erin# a
s&immin# pool or as an out1door sta#e or roof for suc$ a sta#e'
5000-6
One form of space frame is described in our o&n earlier Patent 8B1B10!4694' +$is structure $as
upper and lo&er #rids of $ori%ontal structural members interconnected b) upri#$t structural
members at intersections of t$e upper and lo&er #rid members' +$e complete space frame is built
up from a series of modules eac$ comprisin# one upri#$t member and $ori%ontal upper and lo&er
structural members' 9odular construction is attracti,e because muc$ of t$e assembl) &or7 can be
carried out in factor) conditions and t$e modules merel) re:uire 0oinin# to#et$er on site' Eac$
module is normall) constructed b) &eldin# t$e ,arious elements to#et$er in a 0i#'
500046
W$en t$e re:uired dept$ bet&een t$e upper and lo&er la)ers is comparati,el) small* for example
less t$an one metre* full access to t$e 0oints &it$ &eldin# e:uipment becomes difficult* due to t$e
presence of $ori%ontal members at t$e ot$er end of t$e upri#$t member and due to t$e presence of
t$e 0i#'
5000!6
An ob0ect of t$e present in,ention is to o,ercome t$is difficult)'
500066
Accordin# to t$e present in,ention a space frame comprisin# an upper #rid of $ori%ontal structural
members 0oined to#et$er at upper intersections* a lo&er #rid of $ori%ontal structural members 0oined
to#et$er at lo&er intersections and upri#$t structural members interconnectin# t$e #rids at t$eir
intersections* t$e structure bein# formed from prefabricated modules* is c$aracterised in t$at eac$
module comprises one of t$e upri#$t members and $ori%ontal structural members permanentl)
0oined to one end onl) of t$e upri#$t member* alternate modules bein# assembled into t$e space
frame in relati,el) in,erted positions &it$ t$e free ends of $ori%ontal members of one module eac$
0oined to t$e free end of t$e upri#$t member of an ad0acent module'
500036
.n addition to simplif)in# t$e access to 0oints for &eldin# durin# manufacture* t$ese modules can be
stac7ed to#et$er more compactl) for transportation t$an t$e modules of our earlier patent' +$is
facilit) can ma7e it more attracti,e to ser,e a &ider #eo#rap$ical area from a sin#le module
manufacturin# facilit)'
500026
Preferabl) t$e upri#$t and $ori%ontal members formin# a module are &elded to#et$er' +$e
in,ention is particularl) useful &it$ a &elded construction because #ood access is a,ailable for
&eldin# e:uipment'
500096
+$e $ori%ontal structural members ma) be .1section steel members' Preferabl) t$e $ori%ontal
members of one module are 0oined to ad0acent modules b) bolts' Eac$ end of a $ori%ontal structural
member for 0oinin# to anot$er module ma) incorporate a connector plate secured t$ereto and
extendin# be)ond t$e end t$ereof'
500106
+$e free end of t$e upri#$t member of eac$ module ma) incorporate a connector comprisin#
,ertical plates for 0oinin# to t$e connector plates of $ori%ontal members'
500116
+$e upper and lo&er #rids of $ori%ontal structural members ma) eac$ be in an ort$o#onal pattern
pro,ided b) modules eac$ incorporatin# four $ori%ontal structural members'
50016
4ia#onal braces ma) be pro,ided* extendin# from at least some of t$e $ori%ontal members to t$e
upri#$t member of t$e same module'
5001-6
+$e in,ention also extends to a module for use in construction of a space frame as set out abo,e* t$e
module bein# formed as a &elded to#et$er assembl) of an upri#$t structural member and $ori%ontal
structural members* c$aracterised in t$at all t$e $ori%ontal structural members are &elded or
ot$er&ise permanentl) connected to and extend out from one end onl) of t$e upri#$t member'
500146
An embodiment of t$e in,ention &ill no& be described &it$ reference to t$e accompan)in#
dra&in#s in &$ic$;
o <i#ure 1 is a dia#rammatic perspecti,e ,ie& representin# a space frame in accordance &it$
t$e in,ention=
o <i#ure is a perspecti,e ,ie& of t&o modules in appropriate orientations for 0oinin#
to#et$er and &it$ ot$er modules to form a space frame=
o <i#ures - and 4 are correspondin# ,ie&s of modules emplo)ed at ed#es and corners of t$e
space frame=
o <i#ure ! s$o&s a t)pical connection of modules &it$ one anot$er=
o <i#ure 6 illustrates modifications to t$e arran#ement of <i#ure != and
o <i#ure 3 is a ,ie& correspondin# to one of t$e modules of <i#ure * s$o&in# a modification'
5001!6
<i#ure 1 is a dia#rammatic representation of a space frame constructed from modules as s$o&n in
<i#ures to 4' +$e basic structure incorporates an upper ort$o#onal #rid of $ori%ontal structural
members 11 &$ic$ in t$is example are of e:ual len#t$s so t$at t$e) form a s:uare pattern' +$ere is a
correspondin# lo&er #rid of $ori%ontal structural members 1 spaced from t$e upper members 11
b) upri#$t structural members 1-' An optional feature is t$e pro,ision of dia#onal braces 14'
500166
+o illustrate t$e modular construction* t$ose structural members &$ic$ are 0oined as a module prior
to assembl) of t$e structure are s$o&n as bein# 0oined to#et$er &$ile in contrast t$ose structural
members of one module &$ic$ in use are 0oined to structural members of anot$er module are s$o&n
separated b) small #aps bet&een t$e members' <or example* intersection 1! is a 0oint in t$e upper
#rid bet&een structural members of t$e same module and intersection 16 is a correspondin# lo&er
0oint' Similarl)* intersection 13 is a connection of se,eral modules in t$e upper #rid and intersection
12 is a correspondin# lo&er connection'
500136
<i#ure illustrates t&o t)pical modules A and B' .n t$e follo&in# description* suffixes A* B etc
refer to t$e module of &$ic$ an item is a part' 9odule A is in &$at &ill be referred to as a re#ular
orientation &it$ four $ori%ontal structural members 1A to 4A at its lo&er end and an up&ardl)
extendin# ,ertical structural member !A' 9embers 1A to 4A are .1section steel members and
member !A is a s:uare section $ollo& steel member' 9embers 1A to 4A $a,e s:uare cut ends
and are &elded directl) to t$e four faces of t$e s:uare section member !A' 9ember !A ma) be
closed off b) an end plate 6A &elded t$ereto' A reinforcin# plate 3A (best seen as 3B in module
B" ma) be a s:uare flat plate &it$ dia#onall) offset s:uare aperture so t$at it fits o,er member !A
(or !B" and $as a corner in contact &it$ eac$ $ori%ontal member' .t is t$en secured b) &eldin#
bot$ to t$e ,ertical member and to t$e $ori%ontal members' Plate 3 is optional'
500126
+$e free end of eac$ $ori%ontal member* t$at is t$e end remote from t$e &elded 0oint to t$e upri#$t
member* incorporates a connector plate 2 &$ic$ &ill be described subse:uentl) in #reater detail'
500196
+$e free end of t$e upri#$t member !* t$at is t$e end remote from t$e &elded 0oint &it$ its
$ori%ontal members incorporates a connector -1 for 0oinin# &it$ connector plates 2 of ot$er
modules' 4etails of connector -1 are best illustrated in module B' +$e end of upri#$t member !B
is closed off b) a s:uare plate -' A cruciform structure of four small ,ertical plates -- is formed b)
&eldin# t$e plates to one anot$er and to t$e end plate -' Eac$ of t$e four plates ma7in# up t$e
cruciform arran#ement is adapted to recei,e and to be 0oined to a plate 2 from anot$er module' <or
example* as illustrated* eac$ plate ma) be pro,ided &it$ a bolt $ole so t$at t$e components can be
bolted to#et$er'
50006
9odule B is s$o&n in t$e opposite orientation from module A in t$at t$e upri#$t member !
pro0ects do&n&ard instead of up&ard from t$e four $ori%ontal members 1B to 4B' W$en 0oinin#
modules to#et$er* $ori%ontal member 4A of module A is 0oined to connector -1B of module B and
similarl) $ori%ontal member B of module B is 0oined to connector -1A of module A'
50016
.t is clear from <i#ure 1 t$at modules alon# t$e ed#es of t$e structure s$ould $a,e onl) t$ree
$ori%ontal members and t$at modules at t$e corners s$ould $a,e onl) t&o $ori%ontal members'
Suitable modules to meet t$ese re:uirements are illustrated in <i#ures - and 4'
5006
<i#ure ! s$o&s t$e connection to#et$er of se,eral modules and illustrates in #reater detail t$e
connector plates 2 and t$e connectors -1 on t$e ends of t$e upri#$t members' .n addition to
module A and in,erted module B* t$ree ot$er modules /* 4 and E in t$e same re#ular orientations
as module A eac$ $a,e a $ori%ontal member 0oined to t$is connection' A t)pical $ori%ontal member
4A from a module A incorporates a connector plate 2A &elded to t$e &eb of t$e .1section
$ori%ontal member' Plate 2A extends out be)ond t$e end of member 4A and $as a central bolt
$ole -4A' /orrespondin# parts /* 2/* -4/ and -4* 24* -44 are s$o&n in different
orientations for t$e modules / and 4' /orrespondin# parts 1E* 2E and -4E for a furt$er module E
are not illustrated in <i#ure !' +$e $ori%ontal members 4A* /* -4 and 1E are secured to end
connector -1B of upri#$t member !B' +$is connector is s$o&n to comprise an end plate -B
carr)in# a cruciform arran#ement of connector plates --B* not all of &$ic$ are s$o&n' Eac$ plate
--B incorporates a bolt $ole t$rou#$ &$ic$ a bolt (not s$o&n" is passed to 0oin t$e respecti,e
$ori%ontal member to t$e upri#$t member !'
500-6
<i#ure 6 s$o&s t&o possible modifications for 0oinin# connector plates 2 to $ori%ontal structural
members &$ere #reater stren#t$ is re:uired' Plate 2< of <i#ure 6 is sli#$tl) lon#er t$an t$e
correspondin# plate 2A of <i#ure ! and in addition to bein# &elded to $ori%ontal member 1< is
bolted to it b) a sin#le bolt (not s$o&n"' .n a furt$er modification t$e plate 2> is still lon#er t$an
plate 2< and is bolted to $ori%ontal member -> b) t&o bolts (not s$o&n"'
50046
<i#ure 3 s$o&s a sin#le module 8 similar to module A of <i#ure 1 but also incorporatin# dia#onal
braces' Eac$ dia#onal brace is a steel member -! &elded to t$e top surface of its associated
$ori%ontal structural member near t$e outer end t$ereof and to t$e correspondin# face of t$e s:uare
section upri#$t member !8 near t$e top t$ereof' +$ese braces -! are optional and as illustrated in
<i#ure 1 it ma) be con,enient to pro,ide t$em at certain locations around t$e ed#e of t$e complete
structure* omittin# t$em from ot$er parts of t$e structure' +$us some modules ma) $a,e less
dia#onal braces t$an t$e) $a,e $ori%ontal members'
500!6
+$e resultin# structure is relati,el) stron# and li#$t and is eas) to assemble on site' .t ma) be
assembled b) startin# from one corner or ed#e &it$ a module fixed to an appropriate support for t$e
structure and t$en addin# one module at a time' Alternati,el) some assemblies of #roups of
modules ma) be pre1assembled to#et$er and t$en mo,ed into position for connection to ot$er suc$
sub1assemblies'
50066
Eac$ module is manufactured in a 0i# &$ic$ $olds t$e structural members in t$eir re:uired relati,e
positions' Because t$e $ori%ontal structural members are pro,ided at onl) one end of t$e upri#$t
member* #ood access is a,ailable to t$e 0oint in all re:uired directions to establis$ an effecti,e &eld'
+$e dia#onal braces -! if re:uired are added subse:uentl)'
50036
<or rationalisation purposes it is con,enient for all modules ot$er t$an corner and ed#e modules to
be identical to eac$ ot$er and for t$e corner and ed#e modules merel) to omit one or t&o $ori%ontal
members and incorporate correspondin#l) modified connectors -1 and reinforcin# plates 3'
>o&e,er* in some structures* t$ere ma) be a re:uirement for #reater stren#t$ in t$e $ori%ontal
members in eit$er t$e upper #rid or t$e lo&er #rid' <or example* t$e space frame could be used in a
composite steel and concrete structure as described in our European Patent Application -32 -!4'
Wit$ t$at arran#ement* t$e upper $ori%ontal members ma) $a,e a smaller cross sectional area t$an
t$e lo&er members because t$e stren#t$ of t$e upper members is supplemented b) embeddin# in
concrete' .n suc$ a case* t&o different module desi#ns are re:uired* one for standard orientation and
t$e ot$er for in,erted orientation'
50026
<or some structures* it ma) be desirable to use a #reater spacin# bet&een $ori%ontal members in one
direction alon# t$e len#t$ of t$e structure t$an in anot$er direction across its &idt$' +o ac$ie,e suc$
a structure* eac$ module s$ould $a,e une:ual len#t$ $ori%ontal member'
50096
.f t$e structure is to be a cambered or pitc$ed roof* t)picall) &it$ up to a fe& de#rees of pitc$ or
camber for draina#e purposes* small ,ariations in an#les bet&een members or bet&een len#t$s of
members ma) be re:uired to ac$ie,e t$e pitc$ or camber' Suc$ small ,ariations from true ,ertical
and $ori%ontal as occur for t$e components and t$e structure as a &$ole do not affect t$e
fundamental nature of t$e structure and are intended to be compre$ended &it$in #eneral references
to ,ertical and $ori%ontal directions'
500-06
+$e cross section and material of t$e structural members ma) be ,aried' <or example t$e upri#$ts
could be round tubes' Similarl)* $ori%ontal members could be + sections or . sections &it$ une:ual
flan#es' >ori%ontal members for one direction ma) differ in section from t$ose in t$e ot$er
direction' Aluminium or some ot$er material could replace steel for specialist applications &$ere
&ei#$t is critical'
500-16
.n assembl) of a module from its components* ot$er forms of permanent attac$ment besides
&eldin# ma) be used' <or example* de,elopments in ad$esi,e tec$nolo#) could allo& t$e use of
ad$esi,es in place of &eldin#'
500-6
.t ma) be desirable &it$ some structures to use some modules &$ic$ are stron#er t$an ot$er
modules' <or example* &it$ a s:uare space frame supported onl) at its corners* it ma) be desirable
for all t$e ed#e modules and corner modules to incorporate $ori%ontal members of increased cross
section in addition to or in place of pro,idin# t$ese modules &it$ braces -!'